De la Fuente, Alberto Moreno. A Visual History of Ships and Navigation. Part of the Visual History of the World series. 2017. 96p. ISBN 978-1-49946594-5. Available at 623.82 MOR on the library shelves.
Humankind has used ships for thousands of years, with different crafts built for specific functions. Ships have moved voyagers, cargo, and armies throughout the world. From simple flotation devices at the beginning of antiquity to the Panamex and aircraft carriers of today, ships have benefited from numerous innovations and discoveries. The addition of rows of oars ensured propulsion even when there was no wind. The harnessing of wind increased the range of ships, and facilitated access to the rest of the world, and led to the colonization of “new” continents.
The invention of steam propulsion ensured steady propulsion and shortened trips across oceans, and greatly increased commerce on the seas. A revolution in cladding ships with iron suddenly made an entire class of warships obsolete and led to the creation of the battleship. Further transformations include the use of nuclear power for warships, the deployment of aircraft carriers, and the arrival of container ships.
Double page spreads provide images of different types of ships, from the first Phoenician merchants to the Korean turtle ship and iconic ships such as the Mayflower, HMS Victoire, and HMS Beagle. Fans of history and of navigation will appreciate the attention to detail and the quality of illustrations.
Other volumes in this series include:
- A Visual History of Soldiers and Armies around the World
- A Visual History of Ships and Navigation
- A Visual History of the World’s Enduring Mysteries
- A Visual History of the Great Civilizations
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