A comprehensive picture of the life and responsibilities of an English medieval shipmaster. Despite a background of war, piracy, depopulation, bullion shortages, adverse political decisions, legal uncertainties and deteriorating weather conditions, between the mid-fourteenth and the mid-fifteenth centuries the English merchant shipping industry thrived. New markets were developed, voyages became longer, ships and cargoes increased in size and value, and an interest in ship ownership as an investment spread throughout the community. Using a rich range of examples drawn from court and parliamentary records, contemporary literature and the codifications of maritime law, this book illuminates the evolving management and commercial practices which developed to regulate the relationships between shipowners, shipmasters, crews and shipping merchants. It also brings to life ship performance, navigation, seamanship, and the frequently harsh conditions on board.
Reviews
An extremely welcome review. [...] Well written and referenced, it is a noteworthy contribution. * SPECULUM *
An invaluable book which will be required reading for all those interested in medieval maritime history and the development of business practice in the medieval world. * JOURNAL FOR MARITIME RESEARCH *
[B]eschreibt lebensnah die rechtlichen, wirtschaftlichen, organisatorischen und nautischen Anforderungen, die der Kapitaen in der bluhenden englischen Handelsschiffahrt zu erfullen hatte. * DEUTSCHES ARCHIV FUER DIE ERFORSCHUNG DES MITTELALTERS *
Will be required reading for all those interested in medieval ships and also the development of business practice in the medieval world. * NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY *
[A] masterly study. * THE RICARDIAN *
Ward's expertly researched book provides a full reconstruction of the life of a medieval shipmaster. [...] Very few maritime historians have accepted the challenge of approaching medieval seafaring from a social historian's perspective. Robin Ward has, and has done it admirably. And for that reason, The World of the Medieval Shipmaster should become a classic in its field. * NAUTICAL RESEARCH JOURNAL *
This entertaining product of detailed scholarship will fascinate readers of early history as it brings to life ship performance, navigation and seamanship. Maritime historians will appreciate Ward's meticulous research, comprehensive appendices, transcriptions, translations and dissections of medieval legal texts. * NORTHERN MARINER *
A handsome and resourceful study. [...] It delivers a series of rewarding insights that will provide new starting points for future studies. [...] Students coming into the field of medieval maritime history and Chaucerians wishing to refine their readings of the Shipman will benefit tremendously from this book. For all other medievalists [it] will become the best guide to an arcane discipline. * THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW *



Book Information
ISBN 9781843834557
Author Robin Ward
Format Hardback
Page Count 270
Imprint The Boydell Press
Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Weight(grams) 1g