[MR] New book on Arab and Byzantine ships and trade

[Garth G. Groff]

Noble friends,

Today I cataloged EAST AND WEST: ESSAYS ON BYZANTINE AND ARAB WORLDS IN 
THE MIDDLE AGES, edited by Juan Pedro Monferrer-Sala, Vassilios 
Christides and Theodoros Papadopoullos (ISBN 9781607240563; Library of 
Congress call # DF547 .I742 E37 2009). This book contains a number of 
essays on various aspects of the medieval Arab world, chiefly as seen 
through Byzantine eyes. What struck me as most useful to Scadians were 
five essays on Arab and Byzantine maritime history, possibly of interest 
or use to our Corsarium or to others with an interest in medieval ships 
and sailing. The articles are "Mamluk Ships and Seamanship: a 
Reappraisal" by Vassilios Christides; "The Reconstruction of the Average 
Arab-Byzantine Warship Dromon-Shini" by George K. Livadas; "The Fatimid 
State and Egypt's Mediterranean Trade 10th - 12th Centuries" by Y.Y. 
Lev; "Sulayman al-Mahri and his Major Work on Navigation" by Theodore 
Shumovsky; and "Early Islamic Ports of Morocco: Location and Economical 
Considerations" by Athena Trakadas. Three of the articles are 
illustrated, and there are 12 contemporary views or photos of models of 
ships or their major features. I was especially interested in a drawing 
of what is described as "Arab machine for launching Greek fire". The 
articles are scholarly, but not difficult to read and understand, and 
best of all, they have bibliographical references.

Kind regards,


Mungo Napier, Shire of Isenfir's Unofficial Librarian
(mka Garth Groff, former Petty Officer 1st Class, USCG)