Hellenistic Naval Warfare and Warships 336-30 BC: War at Sea from Alexander to Actium [Hardcover]

The Hellenistic period, from Alexander the Great to the Battle of Actium, was a time of great technological change and innovation in naval design. There was a naval arms race between the Successor States that culminated in a plethora of ship types and the largest oared vessels ever built.Michael Pitassi gathers all the available evidence and comparative data to reconstruct the various classes of warship. Each is illustrated with clear diagrams and scale models, with particular attention paid to the arrangement of oars and rowers, the subject of much ongoing debate. He narrates the key naval battles of the period, huge affairs involving hundreds of ships, describing the forces engaged and the tactics employed. Strategic factors such as the location of port facilities, the supply of timber and maritime trade are also considered.The Hellenistic period, from Alexander the Great to the Battle of Actium, was a time of great technological change and innovation in naval design.Traces the development of ships and naval warfare from Alexander the Great to the Battle of Actium.This was a period of great technological innovation in ship design, culminating in the largest oared vessels ever built.The author uses all the available evidence and comparative data to reconstruct the various classes of warship and to examine each type.Ship designs and particularly oar layouts/rowing schemes are illustrated in clear diagrams and scale models.Narrates the key battles of the period, describing the forces engaged and the strategies and tactics employed.Considers strategic factors such as port facilities, timber supply and maritime trade.Well illustrated throughout with 103 illustrations and 20 maps. This book is aimed at several audiences, those interested in naval strategy and tactics, vessel construction, and/or the complexities of the experiments on rowing placements and numbers of rowers required; there may be difficulties in comprehending some explanations. Another group includes hislƒI