Naval Ships and Oceanic Travel

By Qatar
  • Jan 1, 600

    Bireme Dromon

    These ships were used by the Byzantine Empire from the 6-12th centuries. The ships were propelled by oars and later by sails.
  • Period: Jan 1, 600 to Jan 1, 1500

    Middle Ages

  • Jan 1, 650

    Sutton Hoo

    This ship was 90 feet long with narrow planks. There weren't any permanent masts.
  • Jan 1, 672

    Greek Fire

    Greek Fire was used in war on the waters. The liquid used by the Byzantine Empire was shot out of a tube and contnued to burn while in the water.
  • Jan 1, 700

    Kivalsund

    This ship was used in Norway. It had central reinforcing planks, probably used for a mast.
  • Aug 1, 1000

    Viking Longship

    This ship was long, light, and shallow that allowed for greater speeds. It was double ended and made from wood.
  • Aug 1, 1050

    Knorr

    This square-rigged ship was used by merchants. It had high sides and used sails.
  • Aug 1, 1100

    Sternpost was shaped differently

    The sternposts were shaped differently for the use of rudders.
  • Aug 1, 1156

    Europen Rudder

    This type of rudder was invented by Somerland. It was pintle-and-gudgon with iron hinges. It was attached to the sternpost.
  • Aug 1, 1234

    Cogs used for war

    Lubeck defended against the King of Denmark using this type of cog ship. This ship was commonly used for war after this incident.
  • Aug 1, 1261

    Lighthouses

    Lighthouses became popular because ships constantly misseed their destinations in the dark. While these had been used for centuries in some way, they became very popular around this time period.
  • Aug 1, 1320

    Carrack

    This was a Genoan ship with three decks. It was originally used in Genoa to sail North.
  • Aug 1, 1470

    Deck Guns

    The first ship had ninteen guns. This was used for war and taking over other ships. They were Hanseatic ships to start.

  • Utrecht Hulk

    This was a ship popular in the Frissian Islands. It's planks were flush with each other and tapered to draw up ends and sides.

  • Astrolabe

    This was basically an "astronomical computer." It was first invented by an Arab astronomer named al-Battani. It had an analog calculator for spherical astronomy. It determined latitude by the rocking of the ship or the wind.

  • Cog Ship

    This ship was made my oak. It had one mast and a square-rigged sail. The central rudder had open hulls. The ship could be rowed and was big and inexpensive.

  • Arab Rudder

    This rudder was written about by al-Muqaddasi. It was stern-post mounted and had two lines attached to a crosspiece, perpendicular to the blade.