George Hourani's "Arab Seafaring"

Abstract: 7 pages in length. The vastness of George Hourani's "Arab Seafaring" explores well beyond the standardized version of sea trade history and its eventual impact upon the world; rather, this particular historic rendering takes myriad other elements into account when describing one of the most important episodes in commerce. While the author does, indeed, address the fundamental aspects of sea trade history as it relates to the time before Christ, the Arabs, the Indian Ocean and ultimately to China and East Africa, one might readily argue that the much more interesting components of Hourani's account stem from his detailed descriptions of other heretofore undisclosed content, such as travel particulars, geographic interests, meteorology and highly illustrative visual images of the very vessels that made these seafaring journeys over and over again. Also integral to the overall comprehensiveness of Hourani's book is the impact of lighthouses, maritime handbooks and other invaluable guiding instruments, as well as that of piracy and everyday sea life upon the sailors. Unquestionably, Arab Seafaring is one of the most exhaustive accounts of its kind that paints a complete and detailed literary picture of what it meant to be involved with seafaring commerce during these centuries. No additional sources cited.

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Catagory: England (Before 1700)

Subcatagory: Western Civilization

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