This is an encyclopedia of maritime history that covers the entire history of seafaring - from ancient Egyptian shipbuilders to Viking sea-raiders, from Nelson and the Napoleonic Wars to the nuclear submarines and supertankers of today. Placing maritime affairs in their larger historical context, the Encyclopedia shows how seafaring has both reflected and influenced the major economic, cultural, military, and political developments in world history. The Encyclopedia offers a uniquely integrated approach. It emphasizes the connections between maritime history and many related fields, including naval history, shipbuilding, navigation and scientific instrumentation, maritime art and literature, commerce and economics, exploration and maritime geography, oceanography and hydrology, and international maritime law. As a result, a wealth of information is available in a single reference work that can otherwise be found only with the help of an extensive library.