ABSTRACT
The sources of our knowledge of ancient shipbuilding are of three kinds: first, a very few examples of the remains of ancient vessels; secondly, written accounts; thirdly, contemporary illustrations. The method of building the Homeric ships was almost the same as that employed for most small wooden ships today. There has been much controversy on the methods of rowing these early warships. Such terms as bireme, trireme and quinquereme are taken by some authorities to indicate that the vessels in question were rowed by oars operated at two, three and five different heights from the water. The round merchant sailing ship, clinker-built in the north but carvel-built in the south like Roman vessels, was rapidly improved during the first half of the 15th century, particularly in the Mediterranean. The ship has therefore that combination of fore-and-aft and square sails which was to become indispensable for all larger sailing-vessels down to the end of the age of sail.
