Hellenistic Naval Warfare and Warships 336-30 BC

Download or read book Hellenistic Naval Warfare and Warships 336-30 BC written by Michael Paul Pitassi and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2023-04-06 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Hellenistic period, from Alexander the Great to the Battle of Actium, was a time of great technological change and innovation in naval design. There was a naval arms race between the Successor States that culminated in a plethora of ship types and the largest oared vessels ever built. Michael Pitassi gathers all the available evidence and comparative data to reconstruct the various classes of warship. Each is illustrated with clear diagrams and scale models, with particular attention paid to the arrangement of oars and rowers, the subject of much ongoing debate. He narrates the key naval battles of the period, huge affairs involving hundreds of ships, describing the forces engaged and the tactics employed. Strategic factors such as the location of port facilities, the supply of timber and maritime trade are also considered.