Arab Seafaring in the Indian Ocean in Ancient and Early Medieval TimesIn this classic work George Hourani deals with the history of the sea trade of the Arabs in the Indian Ocean from its obscure origins many centuries before Christ to the time of its full extension to China and East Africa in the ninth and tenth centuries. The book comprises a brief but masterly historical account that has never been superseded. The author gives attention not only to geography, meteorology, and the details of travel, but also to the ships themselves, including a discussion of the origin of stitched planking and of the lateen fore-and-aft sails. Piracy in the Indian Ocean, day-to-day life at sea, the establishment of ancient lighthouses and the production of early maritime guides, handbooks, and port directories are all described in fascinating detail. Arab Seafaring will appeal to anyone interested in Arab life or the history of navigation. For this expanded edition, John Carswell has added a new introduction, a bibliography, and notes that add material from recent archaeological research. |
Contents
TRADE ROUTES IN | 3 |
Gulf and China in preIslamic Times | 46 |
THE SHIPS | 85 |
Copyright | |
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Abbasid abu-Zayd Abyssinians Aden Adulis Agatharchides Akhbār al-Baḥrayn al-Başrah al-Qulzum al-Sind al-Ubullah al-Yaman Alexandria anchor ancient Apologus Arabs Axum Barygaza boats Buzurg Byzantine Caliphate canal Canton captains century A.D. Ceylon Charax China Chinese ships coasts of Arabia commerce Cosmas East Africa Egypt Egyptian Euphrates evidence expedition Ferrand fleet geographers Greek Himyar Himyarite Hippalus Hirth History Hornell hulls ibn-Baṭṭūṭah ibn-Jubayr India Indian Ocean Iran Islam island Juddah Kalah kingdom of Axum Kitāb land lateen London M. J. de Goeje Malabar Maqdisi Marco Polo Mas'ūdi mast Mediterranean mentioned merchants Mesopotamia Montecorvino Moslem Murūj Nabataeans nails nautical navigation Nile Omana Parthians Periplus Persian Gulf pirates Pliny Po-sse ports probably Procopius Ptolemy quoted Raysūt Red Sea reefs route Sabaeans Sailing Ships sailors Sassanid sewn shore Sindbad Sīrāf Socotra South Arabia stitching Strabo Suez Syria Tabari teak tenth century tion Umān vessels Villiers voyage western wind