THE FOLIO SOCIETY

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History, the only A-Z reference work on the subject, is a remarkable achievement. Four handsomely bound volumes explore maritime history in its entirety, from the early travellers of Oceania more than 50,000 years ago to today’s state-of-the-art navigational systems and vessel designs. Naval battles sit side by side with dramatic voyages of exploration, such as the advance of the Vikings across the Atlantic 500 years before Columbus. Biographies of key maritime figures like Drake and Nelson are included, as are the stories of fascinating historical figures: Greek geographer Ptolemy, whose maps of the known world influenced centuries of explorers; Ibn Battuta, Arab writer and the most distinguished of all medieval travellers; and Jules Verne who fired the imagination of his readers with mysterious stories of the deep.

From the earliest Phoenician merchants to the great naval battles of the 19th and 20th centuries, the history of seafaring is as broad and all-encompassing as the story of humanity itself. Trade missions and exploration vessels, supertankers and nuclear submarines: all have made their contribution, over the centuries, to shaping our world The sheer wealth of information, combined with a clear and accessible style, makes The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History an invaluable resource for the expert, the generalist and anyone with a passion for ships, sailing and the sea. It broaches subjects as diverse as the global history of the navy, the portrayal of ships in art and literature, the history of smuggling and piracy and the development of the lighthouse. From ancient whale hunters to modern competitors in the America’s Cup, from Trojan warships to the Ark Royal, the reader will discover within these volumes the most comprehensive range of maritime topics imaginable. Editor in Chief, John B. Hattendorf ’s great achievement is to place maritime history in a far wider context than ever before, showing how it has reflected and influenced the major economic, cultural, military and political developments in world history.

With nearly 1,000 signed entries, comprising almost a million words and covering thousands of years, this encyclopedia offers a uniquely integrated approach. Entries are ordered alphabetically and contain end-references and bibliographies to aid further research, as well as emphasising the connections between inter-related topics. Each entry is written and signed by one of the international team of four hundred contributors, all naval officers or noted historians. There are 400 black-and-white illustrations, including maps and nautical charts, to complement the text.

Great naval battles
From the Armada to Trafalgar and from Salamis to Pearl Harbor.

Exploratory voyages
Circumnavigations and perilous searches for new routes such as the Northwest Passage.

The history of the Navy
From the earliest navies of the Mediterranean and the Far East to today’s superpower fleets.

Navigational and marine science
Man’s ever-increasing knowledge of the sea, culminating in the great advances of modern oceanography.

Ships, boats, yards and docks
From the galleys of ancient Egypt to today’s diesel-powered container ships.

Maritime art and literature
Including 17th-century Dutch painting, prow heads and modern ship photography.

Economic history
From the earliest trade routes to the closure of modern ports.

Social and labour history
Including details on battles for higher wages and union recognition.

Biographies
Both legendary and lesser-known figures are studied, from John Harrison, the discoverer of longitude to British maritime artist Nicholas Pocock who illustrated the official Life of Admiral Lord Nelson.