HIST-102 Lecture 62: Shipbuilding
14 Oct 2020
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Document Summary
Shipbuilding, in particular, underwent a significant change. As larger and larger ships became necessary to deal efficiently with the increased volume of trade, the traditional design of trade vessels had to alter. Until about 1100 most western ships were of modest size, had relatively shallow hulls, and were guided by an external steerboard that hung over the right-hand side of the ship the origin of our term starboard. Control of the ship depended on the sheer physical strength of the sailor manning the steerboard, a difficult matter on even a relatively tranquil sea like the mediterranean. However, the development of a guiding rudder, firmly embedded in the keel, gave greater control over the vessel and allowed shipbuilders to construct larger boats that were driven by enlarged broadsails. Prior to this, ships had bobbed too wildly on the sea and were too easily upset by the winds to permit reliance on broadsails.
