Overview
"A generation which ignores history has no past – and no future." – Robert A. Heinlein
It’s important to appreciate the fantastic history of the industry you have chosen to be part of.
Historians and archaeologists are working globally to preserve and understand our maritime heritage.
Some areas of note include:
A Simple Timeline of the Western Maritime Industry
♦ 1000 BC: the Middle East
Maritime trade became a regular activity throughout the region. Products being traded included fruits and spices.
♦ 250 BC - 500 AD: Greek and Roman Empires
The rise of the Greek, Phoenician and Roman Empires saw the maritime industry spread from the Mediterranean to India and parts of Northern Europe.
♦ 7th - 8th Centuries and the Arab Empire
Maritime exploration reached new heights and much of the sailing and navigation technology that we use today are from discoveries made during those times.
♦ 15th - 17th Century Europe
Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and British seafarers took part in the trade of silver, gold, and multiple spices. This "Age of Discovery" produced some of the most well-known navigators in modern history, such as Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Jacques Cartier.
♦ The 1800s - 1900s
As vessels became powered by steam – steamboats – became the most prominent and powerful ships on the sea, sailboats fell out of favour. Steamboats could provide faster speeds and haul more cargo.
The 1900s were a time of rapid advances in shipping technology as the internal combustion engine and the gas turbine were both invented. These became the preferred method of propulsion for shipowners and are still heavily used to this day.
