medieval passenger ships

[summersdream]

All right, half a day of googling and I'm coming up blank. Hopefully someone here can help

Comments

[orange_fell]

A bit of googling seems to suggest that the type of ship the White Ship was is not exactly known, but it was quite plausibly an early cog: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cog_(ship)

Edit: Did you see this page? There's a picture of a conjectured model: http://mitchtestone.blogspot.com/2008/10/white-ship.html

[summersdream]

no but omg! Thank you so much for finding that model! I thought I'd clicked on everything with the White Ship but I missed that one somehow. It's much easier to consider what's going on with a visual like that.

[jayb111]

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has illustrations and ship models to view online. You might find something helpful there.

Also, I remember an enquiry here a while back about, I think, a journey by ship in the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages. If you can find it by searching via the tags, there might be some links in the comments that would be helpful to you.

[summersdream]

I did find that question- but mostly it was shipping routes and types of ships and navigation and papers etc... which was extremely helpful. (it's here in case anyone browsing this topic later on wants the further reading).

Thank you for the link! I never thought about the maritime museums.

[stormwreath]

In the early Middle Ages, ships used in northern Europe were still much like Viking longships. Open boats, perhaps with rowing benches or an open hold, and a single mast and sail. Passengers would be exposed to the elements, and so would have to dress warmly.

[summersdream]

This is exactly the stuff I needed! Thank you thank you thank you!!

Now I know where the weird term forecastle came from. :D And yes, the White Ship sounds about like a crowded nightclub collapsing. #badpartyplan

[delle]

THIS is why I love this community. AWESOME

[stormwreath]

I'll even settle for ideas of passenger accommodation on vessels during Imperial Rome or later Middle Ages?

A pilgrim named Felix Fabri travelled to the Holy Land on a Venetian galley in the year 1483. These 'great galleys' were far larger and more elaborate than the ships the Normans used three centuries earlier, up to 150 feet long. Here are some highlights of his account of the voyage:

[summersdream]

Wow thank you for this! The pic and description help immensely... and I would never in a million years have thought about the well or the sand parts especially. o____O

It does make sense about putting the noble ladies down in the locked up room for safety's sake (I presume that's why?). Thank you!!

[atropos_lee]

As late as the 18th/19th century the "Lady's Hole" on a Royal Navy ship was a secure storage locker below the waterline.

[atropos_lee]

One thing to bear in mind - the majority of seaman and passengers would have slept in blankets on the bare deck. The hammock was not introduced into European ships until the 15/16th century.

[atropos_lee]

Also - it would be very much a communal experience; even the most noble of passengers would expect to share their sleeping quarters with their peers (as indeed they might on land).

[summersdream]

Thank you! That's what I thought- I suspected the hammock wasn't there yet but maritime stuff is NOT my forte. But pffft, who needs privacy in the middle ages, lol. :)