This course will use archaeological and historical sources to examine the development of shipbuilding, seafaring, waterborne commerce, and naval warfare in Europe and its colonies (except the Americas) from the age of exploration to the outbreak of World War One.

Course Schedule:
 

Week 1.     Introduction to Course.

                   1. Discussion of seminar presentations.
                   2. Discussion of term paper research, writing, and editing.
                   3. Europe at the End of the Medieval Era [Crisman].
 

Week 2.     Shipbuilding in the Early 16^th Century.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Cogs, Carracks, and Caravels: Late Medieval Vessel Types [Crisman].
                   2. The Villefranche Wreck.
                   3. The Rye A and Cattewater Wrecks.
                   4. An Overview of 16^th Century Naval Architectural Treatises: Baker, Timbotta, Oliveira, and Levanha.
 

Week 3.     Rigging and the Introduction of Shipboard Ordnance.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Early 16^th Century Ship Rigs and the Rigging of the Mary Rose.
                   2. Gunpowder Weapons in Late Medieval Europe [Crisman].
                   3. Wrought Iron Cannon: Their Construction and Examples from the Mary Rose.
                   4. Early Cannon Founding and the Cast Bronze Guns of the Mary Rose.
                   5. Small Arms on Board Ship, 1450-1550.
 

Week 4.     Shipboard Life and The Discovery of the World in the 16^th Century.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Surgeons and sailors on Board the Mary Rose.
                   2. The Portuguese Quest for Asia [Crisman].
                   3. The World Encompassed: The Circumnavigations of Pigafetta and Drake.
                   4. Hakluyt's Voyages.
 

Week 5.     1588: The Spanish Armada.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Philip II, Elizabeth I, and the Dutch Protestant Revolt [Crisman].
                   2. The Composition of the Fleets.
                   3. Trinidad Valencera.
                   4. Other Armada Wrecks.
                   5. The Alderney Wreck
 

Week 6.     Portugal's Asian Empire.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. "The Tragic History of the Sea": Seafaring Life on the Carreira da India.
                   2. The Pepper Wreck: Nossa Senhora dos Mártires.
                   3. Santo António de Tanna: History, Construction, and Artifacts.
                   4. The Portuguese Atlantic Islands [Crisman].
 

Week 7.     The Dutch East India Company.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Linschoten's Itinerario and the Anglo-Dutch Invasion of Asia [Crisman].
                   2. Early VOC Ships: Mauritius and Batavia.
                   3. The Eighteenth-Century VOC Ship Amsterdam.
                   4. Other VOC Shipwrecks.
 

Week 8.     Seventeenth-century Naval Vessels.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. The Anglo-Dutch Naval Wars [Crisman].
                   2. A Very Short Career: Sweden's Vasa.
                   3. The Duart Point Wreck [Swan] and the Dartmouth.
                   4. Yet Another Swedish Tragedy: Kronan.
 

Week 9.     Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-century Merchant Craft.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Merchant Craft of the 17^th and 18^th Centuries: An Overview [Crisman].
                   2. The Alvsnabben Wreck.
                   3. The Jutholmen Wreck.
                   4. The Fluyt Anna Maria and the Pink Evstafi.
 

Week 10.     Inland Watercraft of Europe.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Lelystad Buertschip.
                   2. Waterships.
                   3. E14 and A71: Two Dutch Prams.
                   4. The Lake Padarn Boat.
                   5. The Steamer Eric Nordewall.
 

Week 11.     Eighteenth- and Early Nineteenth-century Royal Navy Ships.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Royal Navy Administration in the Eighteenth Century [Crisman].
                   2. Wrecked in the Line of Duty: Maidstone and Invincible.
                   3. Lost in the Great South Seas: Pandora and Sirius.
                   4. Nelson's Victory.
 

Week 12.     The Transition to Iron and Steam.

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. The Nineteenth-Century Revolution in Maritime Technology [Crisman].
                   2. Nineteenth-century Wooden Merchant Vessels.
                   3. I.K. Brunel and the Great Britain.
                   4. Brunel's White Elephant: the Great Eastern.
                   5. The Shape of Things to Come: H.M.S. Warrior.
 

Week 13.     Dreadnoughts and the Coming of the Great War.

                   (Field trip: this class will be held on board of the U.S.S. Texas).

                   Seminar topics:
                   1. Jacky Fisher's Dream Come True: H.M.S. Dreadnought.
                   2. U.S.S. Texas
                   3. The Battle of Jutland.
 

Week 14.     Presentation of Term Paper Research.
 

Course Requirements:

During the semester each student will be assigned several seminar topics to research and present in class. Presentation should be no more than one-half hour in length. Try to keep to this time limit. Students should plan to distribute a bibliography of sources they consulted for the presentation, and the use of visual aids such as slides, photocopied handouts, or illustrations drawn on the chalkboard is encouraged.

In addition to their seminar presentations, each student is to research and write a paper on some aspect of post-medieval seafaring. A brief (100 word) abstract of your proposed research and a preliminary bibliography are due on February 15. Each student will present the results of his or her own research during the final class session. The paper is to be submitted on or before 5 p.m., Monday, May 10, 1999. Submitting your paper after this date will result in a lower grade.

Please note: Because the seminar has a large number of students I may not be able to read your paper and grade it before the deadline to turn in Spring, 1999 grades (May 17); if this occurs you will receive a temporary "Incomplete" until the paper is graded and I can submit a "Change of Grade" form. Do not be alarmed by an "Incomplete" unless you failed to turn in your paper.

The final grade: 50% class presentations/participation and 50% term paper.

Attendance of all classes and participation in discussions are encouraged.
 

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