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An A to Z of Pirate & Seafaring Expressions
Pirates, especially those of the so-called Golden Age of Piracy (c. 1690-1730), are particularly famous for their pithy expressions which relate to all things nautical, general roistering, and life of crime on the High Seas. There is even...

Definition
Uluburun Shipwreck
The Uluburun shipwreck is a Bronze Age vessel discovered lying off the coast of Kas, Turkey. The ship, probably originally from Phoenicia/Canaan, dates to between 1330 and 1300 BCE and was carrying a full cargo of trade goods, perhaps from...

Definition
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (1747-1792) was a Scottish-born sailor who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). His raid on the English port town of Whitehaven in 1778 and his victory over the HMS Serapis the...

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Nydam Ship
The first Viking ship able to navigate the sea easily is known as the Nydam ship, from Denmark, built c. 350-400 CE, though this ship had no sail.
Gottorp Castle, Sleswig.

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Diagram of the Brooks Slave Ship
A diagram of the Brooks (or Brookes), a British slave ship launched in 1781 CE. This ship carried enslaved African people on a brutal journey across the Atlantic during the 18th Century CE. Diagram created in 1787 CE, depicting the inhumane...

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Oseberg Ship Decoration - Detail
A detail of Viking Age decorative artwork found on the Oseberg ship interred in a ship burial in Norway c. 834 CE. It displays the first animal ornamentation style of the Viking Age, known as Style E (and sometimes referred to as the Oseberg-...

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Satavahana Ship
A ship is represented on this coin issued during the reign of the Satavahana king Vashishthiputra Shri Pulumavi (130 CE – 150 CE). The ship is depicted having two masts.
Location: British Museum, London, United Kingdom.

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Slave Ship Model
Slave ship model, which "shows a typical ship in the early 1700s on the Middle Passage. To preserve their profits, captains and sailors tried to limit the deaths of slaves from disease, suicide, and revolts. In the grisly arithmetic of the...

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Bronze Hand, Roman Ship Decoration
These bronze hands would have decorated the end beams of a Roman ship. They were placed at the end of beams running parallel with the ship's long axis, two either side and with the arm horizontal and thumb pointing upwards. They were believed...

Definition
Viking Ships
Viking ships were built by the Scandinavians during the Viking Age (c. 790 CE - c. 1100 CE) and were used both within Scandinavia and beyond for purposes ranging from being the most important means of transport to trade and warfare. Viking...