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Venetian Ships and Shipbuilders of the Renaissance
This major study by Frederic Lane tracks the rise and decline of the great shipbuilding industry of Renaissance Venice. Drawing on a wealth of archival sources, Lane presents detailed descriptions of the Venetian arsenal, including the great galleys that doubled as cargo ships and warships; the sixteenth-century round ships, which introduced dramatic innovations in rigging; and the majestic galleons, whose straight lines and greater speed made them ideal for merchantmen, but whose narrowness made them liable to capsize if loaded with artillery. Additional chapters detail the actual process of ship construction, the organization and activity of the craft guilds, and the development and management of the Arsenal.
- GenresHistory
296 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1934
About the author
Frederic C. Lane
34 books9 followersFrederic Chapin Lane was a historian who specialized in Medieval history with a particular emphasis on the Italian city and region of Venice.
Frederic C. Lane received his B.A. from Cornell University in 1921, his M.A. from Tufts College in 1922, where he wrote a master's thesis on "The economic history of Europe during the first half of the sixteenth century", and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1930 with a doctoral thesis on "Venetian Ships and Shipbuilders of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries". He began his graduate studies at the University of Bordeaux in 1923-24, then studied at the University of Vienna in 1924, before going to Harvard University in 1925-26. While a Harvard graduate student he was John Thornton Kirkland Fellow for Research in Italy in 1927-28. He was appointed instructor in history at the University of Minnesota in 1926, before being hired at The Johns Hopkins University as an instructor. There, he served as an assistant professor from 1931 to 1935. Promoted to associate professor in 1936, and full professor in 1946, he retired in 1966 as professor emeritus. Lane's research interests focused on the Italian city-state of Venice. His research on the city as a maritime trading center, particularly with his research in economic history, helped establish a standard for examining the development and growth of other Italian city-states. He applied his skills and interests in economic and maritime history to write the history of American wartime shipping during World War II.
From 1951 to 1954, he was assistant director, Social Science division, Rockefeller Foundation, and advised on European policy. He served as historian of the U.S. Maritime Commission, 1946-47. A member of the American Historical Association, he served as a member of council from 1959 to 1962, and was elected President of the American Historical Association for 1964-1965...
Active in a number of other professional organizations, he was editor of the Journal of Economic History, president of the Society for Italian Historical Studies in 1961-63, president of the American Historical Association in 1965, president of the Economic History Association 1956-58, and president of the International Economic History Association, 1966-1968. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Medieval Academy of America.
Frederic C. Lane received his B.A. from Cornell University in 1921, his M.A. from Tufts College in 1922, where he wrote a master's thesis on "The economic history of Europe during the first half of the sixteenth century", and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1930 with a doctoral thesis on "Venetian Ships and Shipbuilders of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries". He began his graduate studies at the University of Bordeaux in 1923-24, then studied at the University of Vienna in 1924, before going to Harvard University in 1925-26. While a Harvard graduate student he was John Thornton Kirkland Fellow for Research in Italy in 1927-28. He was appointed instructor in history at the University of Minnesota in 1926, before being hired at The Johns Hopkins University as an instructor. There, he served as an assistant professor from 1931 to 1935. Promoted to associate professor in 1936, and full professor in 1946, he retired in 1966 as professor emeritus. Lane's research interests focused on the Italian city-state of Venice. His research on the city as a maritime trading center, particularly with his research in economic history, helped establish a standard for examining the development and growth of other Italian city-states. He applied his skills and interests in economic and maritime history to write the history of American wartime shipping during World War II.
From 1951 to 1954, he was assistant director, Social Science division, Rockefeller Foundation, and advised on European policy. He served as historian of the U.S. Maritime Commission, 1946-47. A member of the American Historical Association, he served as a member of council from 1959 to 1962, and was elected President of the American Historical Association for 1964-1965...
Active in a number of other professional organizations, he was editor of the Journal of Economic History, president of the Society for Italian Historical Studies in 1961-63, president of the American Historical Association in 1965, president of the Economic History Association 1956-58, and president of the International Economic History Association, 1966-1968. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Medieval Academy of America.
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August 8, 2012
This book was originally published in 1934. It is a type of classical scholarship which seems to be based solely on research and re-interpretation of actual original records.
As such it records events as they were summarized during the time that they transpired, but does not inject suppositions or interpretations.
The title and thesis of the work is "Ships and Shipbuilders". The focus of the bulk of the material was on recorded government administration of the building and the management of shipbuilding activity. The material regarding the actual ships themselves was rather sparse. Plans of deck layouts were presented which originated from original drawings, but these were not detailed specifications for the construction of any actual ship. Some mention was made regarding capacities for oars and personnel, but no real analysis was performed regarding the efficiency and speed of boat types. As much or more focus was placed on the sailing capabilities of galleys rather than their performance under oars alone. Because the focus was on all ship types built, then as much or more material was presented for round ships which were evolving into cogs, as there was for the rowed vessels.
Overall the writing was very "dry" and assumed a reader familiar with many aspects of the historical period without providing any extraneous explanation of terminology or aspects of the lifestyles of the period.
The book is primarily valuable for its accuracy in interpretation and collation of specific data in regard to management during periods of the history of Venice.
As such it records events as they were summarized during the time that they transpired, but does not inject suppositions or interpretations.
The title and thesis of the work is "Ships and Shipbuilders". The focus of the bulk of the material was on recorded government administration of the building and the management of shipbuilding activity. The material regarding the actual ships themselves was rather sparse. Plans of deck layouts were presented which originated from original drawings, but these were not detailed specifications for the construction of any actual ship. Some mention was made regarding capacities for oars and personnel, but no real analysis was performed regarding the efficiency and speed of boat types. As much or more focus was placed on the sailing capabilities of galleys rather than their performance under oars alone. Because the focus was on all ship types built, then as much or more material was presented for round ships which were evolving into cogs, as there was for the rowed vessels.
Overall the writing was very "dry" and assumed a reader familiar with many aspects of the historical period without providing any extraneous explanation of terminology or aspects of the lifestyles of the period.
The book is primarily valuable for its accuracy in interpretation and collation of specific data in regard to management during periods of the history of Venice.
Displaying 1 of 1 review