Inside the mind of a 15th century Venetian mariner!
In 1434 an experienced Venetian mariner Michael of Rhodes began writing a long manuscript detailing his decades long experience at sea.
His manuscript reveals a lot about what made Venice such a great naval superpower!
THREAD
In 1434 an experienced Venetian mariner Michael of Rhodes began writing a long manuscript detailing his decades long experience at sea.
His manuscript reveals a lot about what made Venice such a great naval superpower!
THREAD
The writings of Michael of Rhodes reveal how obsessed Venetian mariners were with numbers, mathematics and other forms of relevant knowledge that has been accumulated over centuries.
Capable and knowledgeable men like him assured Venetian naval dominance over Mediterranean!
Capable and knowledgeable men like him assured Venetian naval dominance over Mediterranean!
Furthermore, he was not a nobleman. He was a common man who was given an opportunity by Venice and for that he was forever grateful and loyal to "la Serenissima".
He designed his imaginary coat of arms in which a rat captures a cat, a metaphor for reversed fortune.
He designed his imaginary coat of arms in which a rat captures a cat, a metaphor for reversed fortune.
In 1401 Michael of Rhodes first joined a Venetian galley as a common oarsman.
But he was a very capable and ambitious man. Over the next decades he took part in numerous voyages both in war galleys and merchant navy and rose in ranks, attaining highest positions for non-nobles.
But he was a very capable and ambitious man. Over the next decades he took part in numerous voyages both in war galleys and merchant navy and rose in ranks, attaining highest positions for non-nobles.
In 1434 he wrote a long manuscript in an ancient Venetian dialect.
The manuscript reveals his incredible knowledge not just in shipbuilding and navigation but also in mathematics, astronomy and astrology.
It also reveals what made Venetians such great sailors and merchants.
The manuscript reveals his incredible knowledge not just in shipbuilding and navigation but also in mathematics, astronomy and astrology.
It also reveals what made Venetians such great sailors and merchants.
Michael of Rhodes shows us how Venetian merchants meticulously calculated prices and profits!
Here is an example of how he calculated the value of pepper, one of the most important commodities traded by the Venetians.
(Original on the left and English translation right)
Here is an example of how he calculated the value of pepper, one of the most important commodities traded by the Venetians.
(Original on the left and English translation right)
In fact, Michael of Rhodes dedicated a significant part of his manuscript to mathematics which he regarded as very important.
Here he explains the rule of three, a fundamental mathematical tool in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, used to solve many practical commercial problems.
Here he explains the rule of three, a fundamental mathematical tool in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, used to solve many practical commercial problems.
Venetians were also great at navigation!
Michael of Rhodes describes some of complex and curious Venetian navigation techniques such as "marteloio", which he describes as a technique to navigate ships "mentally", a technique that did not depend on the use of a sea chart.
Michael of Rhodes describes some of complex and curious Venetian navigation techniques such as "marteloio", which he describes as a technique to navigate ships "mentally", a technique that did not depend on the use of a sea chart.
Michael of Rhodes also provided a list of the distance and wind direction from one coastal city to the next.
This kind of knowledge was accumulated over centuries of experience!
The Venetians sure knew these waters well.
This kind of knowledge was accumulated over centuries of experience!
The Venetians sure knew these waters well.
He was indeed a very experienced sailor. He detailed his service for Venice and how he rose through the ranks in his 4 decades long service from 1401 to 1443.
On this page he details his service from 1412 to 1417, including a 1416 sea battle against Turks near Gallipoli.
On this page he details his service from 1412 to 1417, including a 1416 sea battle against Turks near Gallipoli.
Discipline was enforced on Venetian fleets!
In 1428 and 1429 Michael of Rhodes served as an armiraio, responsible for the welfare and discipline of the crews.
Among other things, blasphemy was banned and punished as sailors were notorious for foul language.
In 1428 and 1429 Michael of Rhodes served as an armiraio, responsible for the welfare and discipline of the crews.
Among other things, blasphemy was banned and punished as sailors were notorious for foul language.
Life on the sea was rough in middle ages!
The diet of sailors consisted mostly of bread and beans. Cheese and wine were occasional treats.
These men were hardened by such life.
The diet of sailors consisted mostly of bread and beans. Cheese and wine were occasional treats.
These men were hardened by such life.
Most fascinatingly, Michael of Rhodes' manuscript also contains some of the earliest known ship-design drawings!
He provides various measurements and instructions on how to build a galley.
Even though he was not a shipbuilder, he took interest in it.
He provides various measurements and instructions on how to build a galley.
Even though he was not a shipbuilder, he took interest in it.
Bow and stern diagrams.
The shape of the bow or stern were determined in the yard, using string to get the proper curve. This drawing was intended to illustrate part of the process.
The shape of the bow or stern were determined in the yard, using string to get the proper curve. This drawing was intended to illustrate part of the process.
Michael of Rhodes was obsessed with every little detail and devoted lengthy discussions to measurements of masts, yards, and other equipment!
Here, he provided a drawing of a mast, a yard, two side rudders and one stern rudder.
Here, he provided a drawing of a mast, a yard, two side rudders and one stern rudder.
Here is the drawing of the completed ship he instructs to build, called "galley of Flanders".
Michael of Rhodes made numerous voyages to Flanders and back in this kind of ship.
Michael of Rhodes made numerous voyages to Flanders and back in this kind of ship.
And while he mostly sailed on galleys, he was also experienced with square-rigged sailing ships.
These were a hybrid of Mediterranean and Atlantic technologies. Over the 15th century they evolved and became easier to maneuver, cheaper to operate, and cheaper to defend.
These were a hybrid of Mediterranean and Atlantic technologies. Over the 15th century they evolved and became easier to maneuver, cheaper to operate, and cheaper to defend.
In the manuscript Michael of Rhodes also writes about astrology and zodiac signs.
Here he describes the sign of the Libra as part of a 13-page survey of the signs of the zodiac and their influence.
Here he describes the sign of the Libra as part of a 13-page survey of the signs of the zodiac and their influence.
Perhaps unsurprisingly he gave the most favorable description to the sign of the Capricorn under which he himself was born.
"Whoever is born under this sign will be admired, rich and wise."
Such was the life of this great Venetian mariner!
"Whoever is born under this sign will be admired, rich and wise."
Such was the life of this great Venetian mariner!
You can find more about Michael of Rhodes and his manuscript here.
brunelleschi.imss.fi.it
There is also The Book of Michael of Rhodes – A Fifteenth Century Maritime Manuscript edited by Pamela Long and others.
brunelleschi.imss.fi.it
There is also The Book of Michael of Rhodes – A Fifteenth Century Maritime Manuscript edited by Pamela Long and others.
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