John H. Pryor

The thesis here is that given medieval maritime technology of galleys and of sailing ships rather primitive by the standards of the 17-19th centuries, the geography and climate of the Mediterranean gave an inherent naval advantage to powers along the northern litoral - Byzantines, Latins, and in the late Middle Ages the Turks - over those of the southern and eastern coasts.

After a general introduction to relevant technical and hydrographical conditions, successive chapters then argue that Arab marine hegemony during the early Middle Ages was possible only because of their seizure of islands such as Cyprus, Crete, Sicily, and the Balearics; that their (re)conquest led to an overwhelming Christian predominance at sea during the High Middle Ages; and that the partial reversal of this during the 15-16th centuries was made possible by Ottoman control of Aegean and Adriatic coasts.

A brief yet far-ranging book, I found it highly interesting and largely persuasive. If I'd wish for anything, it's a look forward into the 17th century, when the constraints were more-or-less lifted, and how that upset time-honoured patterns.

I was led to get this book from its being a constant reference in Stanton's Norman naval operations in the Mediterranean which I wrote on here earlier this year. The next step will have to be Guilmartin's Gunpowder and Galleys, which both Pryor and Stanton constantly reference.… (more)