Abstract
During the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, ships were constructed using the mortis-and-tenon method, but by the Byzantine era metal or wooden nails had replaced this method. This fundamental shift occurred gradually over the first centuries of the modern era, which suggests a relationship existed between the Romans and these developments. The transformation of hull construction occurred in response to changes in the size and frequency of mercantile shipping, which in turn were fostered by the political, social, and economic conditions of the Roman Empire. A marked aversion to seafaring in Rome’s early history makes this all the more intriguing. This thesis explores the relationship between the changes in Mediterranean shipping technology and Rome’s evolving relationship with the Mediterranean Sea. Chapter One explores changes in shipping technology and culture over a broad period of time. A diachronic study of shipwrecks forms the backbone of the discussion, and is supplemented by discussion of ports, shipping routes, and anchors. Chapter Two traces the Roman cultural outlook on ships and seafaring from the early republic to the late empire. The methodology utilized herein is multi-disciplinary, drawing data from archaeology, historiography, and philology to piece together broad trends.