{"product_id":"the-age-of-the-galley-mediterranean-oared-vessels-since-preclassical-times-conways-history-of-the-ship-9780785812685","title":"The Age of the Galley: Mediterranean Oared Vessels Since Pre-Classical Times (Conway's History of the Ship)","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor thousands of years organized naval warfare was the exclusive preserve of the galley. Oars provided a level of control and maneuverabilty beyond the capabilities of the contemporary sailing ship  and not experienced again until the era of the screw propeller. Precise control allowed squadrons and fleets to operate together  as a unit  which promoted the evolution of earlier fighting tactics. However  for fleets to be more effective than collections of individual vessels  they needed training and organization  from which the first state-funded navies were to develop. THE AGE OF THE GALLEY charts this development from the earliest paleolitic crafts  some of which were paddled rather than rowed  to the classical trireme and its Roman and Byzantine successors. However  as a warship  the galley survived the coming of the three-masted sailing ship and even adapted itself to gunpowder artillery  so later chapters are devoted to the medieval and Renaissance fleets that served the later maritime powers in the Mediterranean. The principal historical chapters are backed by more general sections on the design and oar system of galleys  on the organization and infrastructure of galley fleets  and on non-military applications of the galley. With the recent trials of the Greek Navys reconstructed trireme  this volume has been able to take advantage of much new research; the upsurge in interest in these crafts makes the publication of this work particularly welcome. Lavishly illustrated  THE AGE OF THE GALLEY includes over 65 black-and-white photos  over 200 illustrations and 15 tables.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45650675073077,"sku":"ByrdShop_0785812687","price":246.68,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780785812685.jpg?v=1781800010","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-age-of-the-galley-mediterranean-oared-vessels-since-preclassical-times-conways-history-of-the-ship-9780785812685","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}