The role and characteristics of armed force at sea in western Europe and the Mediterranean prior to 1650.
This volume is both a restatement of current interpretations of sea power in the middle ages and the Renaissance and a general introduction to naval and maritime history over four and a half centuries. The book offers broad conclusions on the role and characteristics of armed force at sea before 1650, conclusions that exploit the best current understanding of the medieval period. The examination of naval militias in the Baltic, permanent galley fleets in the Mediterranean, contract fleets and the use of reprisal for political ends all illustrate the variety and complexity of naval power and domination of the sea in theyears from 1000 to 1650.
The detailed and closely coordinated studies by scholars from Europe, North America, and Australia show patterns in war at sea and discuss the influence of the development of ships, guns, and the language of public policy on maritime conflict. The essays show theimportance and unique character of violence at sea in the period.
Contributors: JOHN B. HATTENDORF, NIELS LUND, JAN BILL, TIMOTHY J. RUNYAN, IAN FRIEL, JOHN H. PRYOR, LAWRENCE V. MOTT, JOHN DOTSON, MICHEL BALARD, BERNARD DOUMERC, MARCO GEMIGNANI, FRANCISCO CONTENT DOMINGUES, LOUIS SICKING, JAN GLETE, N.A.M. RODGER, RICHARD W. UNGER.

John B. Hattendorf, Richard W. Unger

Introduction: Theories of Naval Power - John B. Hattendorf
Naval Force in the Viking Age and High Medieval Denmark - Niels Lund
Scandinavian Warships and Naval Power in the 13th and 14th centuries - Jan Bill
Naval Power and Maritime Technology during the Hundred Years' War - Timothy J Runyan
Oars, Sails and Guns: The English and War at Sea, c.1200-1500 - Ian Friel
Byzantium and the Sea: Byzantine Fleets and the History of The Empire in the Age of the Macedonian Emperors, c.900-1025 - John Pryor
Iberian Naval Power, 1000-1650 - Lawrence V Mott
Venice, Genoa and Control of the Seas in the 13th and 14th Centuries - John Dotson
Genoese Naval Forces in the Mediterranean in the 15th and 16th Centuries - Michel Balard
An Exemplary Maritime Republic: Venice at the End of the Middle Ages - Bernard Doumerc
The Navies of the Medici: The Florentine Navy and the Navy of the Sacred Military Order of Saint Stephen, 1547-1648 - Marco Gemignani
The State of Portuguese Naval Power in the 16th Century - Francisco C Domingues
Naval Power in the Netherlands before the Dutch Revolt - Louis Sicking
Naval Power and Control of the Seas in the Baltic in the 16th Century - Jan Glete
The New Atlantic: Naval Warfare in the 16th Century - N A M Rodger
Conclusion: Toward a History of Medieval Sea Power - Richard W. Unger