Tiller and Whipstaff: The Development of the Sailing Ship 1400–1700

Article number 10220906

The Ship series from the National Maritime Museum presents a broad historical survey of the development of watercraft, tracing the evolution from the earliest rafts and simple dugout boats through complex ancient and medieval vessels to the foundations of modern ship design. Across the volumes, the series combines archaeological evidence, historical sources, and technical analysis to explain how different societies solved the challenges of navigation, construction, and maritime trade. It highlights the relationship between technological innovation and human expansion across seas and rivers, showing how ship design reflects cultural, economic, and military needs over time.