The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History

From the dawn of seafaring history to the present day, from the first crude canoes and rafts to today's nuclear submarines and supertankers, the Encyclopedia of Maritime History will systematically survey the separate but related interests of general historians and maritime specialists.

Comprising more than one million words in four volumes, the work's nine hundred entries will provide a detailed and synthetic overview of the scope and sweep of maritime history, and will bring together in a readily accessible form a range of historical and professional information that can otherwise be found only with the help of an extensive library.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History is available in a four volume print version and as an e-reference text from Oxford's Digital Reference Shelf.

Informed by the expertise of a select group of editors and the insights of the international scholarly community, the encyclopedia will prove a ready reference tool of unparalleled depth and scope for students, teachers, researchers, and enthusiasts alike.The Encyclopedia will be multifaceted in scope, providing coherent and wide-ranging discussion of the field from its focus on naval engagements and systems of navigation to its consideration of the history of trade and the ethnography of seafaring communities.

Entries will range from Nelson and the Napoleonic Wars to voyages of Cheng Ho, from the fortunes of the East India Companies to the particulars of fishing and whaling ports, from the Ark Royal to the Zeven Provinvien, with due consideration of maritime law, maritime art, maritime literature, naval history, ships and shipyards, economic and social history, navigational and marine sciences, and exploration.

For ease of reference and to aid research, the articles will be alphabetically arranged, each signed by the contributor, supported by up-to-date bibliographies, and readily accessible via a system of cross-references and a detailed index and synoptic outline.

Authoritative, comprehensive, and innovative, the Encyclopedia of Maritime History will be an invaluable addition to personal, public, academic, and research libraries and will chart the scope of maritime affairs in world history for a range of readers.