Maritime technological change in the ancient Mediterranean : the invention of the lateen sail
The earliest evidence for the sail in the Mediterranean dates to c.3100 BC and indicates that vessels were rigged with a square-sail. From this point until the late-antique period the square-sail remained the principal sailing rig of the Mediterranean. A new form of sailing rig, the lateen, began to be utilised amongst Mediterranean mariners from at least the 2nd century AD and became widespread from the 5th century AD. The rapid pace of technological change during the late-antique period followed a long period of relative technological stability and has traditionally been explained via a logical progression of technology. This has imposed upon their users a 'need' to improve the windward performance of ancient sailing vessels. Such a progression has also been seen as providing the mechanism, viewed through changes to geometric sail shape, for the unilinear evolution of the modern, western sailing rig. This explanation of maritime technological change is now outdated and unsustainable, both in terms of modern theories of technological change and the available evidence on the specific subject of the lateen sail. Despite this, it is still widely accepted within maritime studies of the ancient world. By investigating
Whitewright, Richard Julian
Maritime technological change in the ancient Mediterranean : the invention of the lateen sail. The earliest evidence for the sail in the Mediterranean dates to c.3100 BC and indicates that vessels were rigged with a square-sail. From this point until the late-antique period the square-sail remained the principal sailing rig of the Mediterranean. A new form of sailing rig, the lateen, began to be utilised amongst Mediterranean mariners from at least the 2nd century AD and became widespread from the 5th century AD. The rapid pace of technological change during the late-antique period followed a long period of relative technological stability and has traditionally been explained via a logical progression of technology. This has imposed upon their users a 'need' to improve the windward performance of ancient sailing vessels. Such a progression has also been seen as providing the mechanism, viewed through changes to geometric sail shape, for the unilinear evolution of the modern, western sailing rig. This explanation of maritime technological change is now outdated and unsustainable, both in terms of modern theories of technological change and the available evidence on the specific subject of the lateen sail. Despite this, it is still widely accepted within maritime studies of the ancient world. By investigating
maritime technological_change ancient_mediterranean invention sail early_evidence sail mediterranean date indicate vessel square sail point late_antique period square sail remain principal sail mediterranean new_form sailing begin utilised amongst mediterranean least become widespread rapid pace technological_change late_antique period follow long_period relative technological stability traditionally explain via logical progression technology impose_upon user need improve performance ancient sailing vessel progression also_see provide mechanism view change geometric sail shape evolution modern_western sail explanation maritime technological_change outdated term modern_theory technological_change available_evidence specific subject sail despite still widely_accept within maritime study ancient_world investigate