SEAFARING AND CIVILIZATION

This study examines selected themes in the evolution of human civilizations through a maritime lens. It does not aspire to provide a comprehensive account of world history in chronological or geographical terms. Instead, it aims to highlight the significant role that seafaring has played in human achievements. While the contributions of seafarers and seafaring to the progress of civilization is a fascinating and diverse topic, it is important to acknowledge that there are many aspects of human activity that are not directly related to seafaring.

A central theme of the book is the development of maritime networks that have connected various societies and civilizations. These networks have served as vital channels for the exchange and distribution of goods, the projection of political and economic power, and the spread of ideologies and cultures. Broadly speaking, these networks can be categorized as either economic or political. Economic networks primarily involve trade, allowing states or organizations to extract, distribute, transform, and consume resources such as food, metals, and timber.

Political networks consist of maritime empires or confederacies where dominant groups direct the efforts of others to fulfill their needs. In practice, these two categories often overlap. The most successful seafaring civilizations can be identified as those that have adeptly leveraged both economic and political networks to accomplish their objectives.