Atlantic Warfare Yesterday : 361 



the Norsemen. Now the Norse ship and the simpler type of galley 

 looked somewhat alike for both were rowed by banks of oars in 

 battle and both had a single mast with square sail amidships used 

 for cruising. However, the hull plan and the construction of the two 

 ships differed and the theory of combat differed. The galley de- 

 pended on a large number of slaves for motive power, and since 

 slaves are unreliable as fighters it also had to carry a complement of 

 fighting men. In the Norse ships, on the other hand, the rower was 

 usually regarded as a free man capable of bearing arms. Thus though 

 galleys went into the Atlantic and Norse ships came into the Medi- 

 terranean neither seems to have affected the design and use of the 

 other because they represented different social theories. 



Besides the Norse ships the medieval maritime nations of northern 

 Europe had developed sailing vessels which were primarily used for 

 travel and for transport. These were rather heavy, high-sided, bowl- 

 shaped vessels driven by sail. In the beginning sail was carried on 

 only one mast, but as time progressed additional masts and sails 

 were added. They were slow and clumsy but they were strong and 

 were capable of carrying pickled and dried fish from the northern 

 fisheries to southern Europe and returning with wine in casks and 

 barrels. They could also carry grain, hides, wool and other wares of 

 the time. They carried passengers because no ships were set aside or 

 particularly designed for this purpose. There were also no vessels 

 especially designed as warships. When England and France wished 

 to engage in wars, as they so frequently did, cargo vessels were hast- 

 ily gotten together and equipped for this purpose and fighting men 

 were put aboard with whatever arms and equipment it was custom- 

 ary for them to use in battles ashore. Since it was desirable to fight 

 from an elevation when ashore it was also thought advisable to fight 

 from an elevation when at sea. Therefore, at the bow and stern of 

 the vessels special platforms were erected, protected by a little cren- 

 elated battlement. In these improvised towers the fighting men took 

 their stand. They were known as the forecastle and the aftercastle. 

 They were found convenient for other purposes beside fighting and 

 in time they came to be incorporated as a regular part of the struc- 

 ture of the ship, becoming a foredeck and a poop or quarterdeck. 

 The name forecasde for the space under the foredeck survives to this 

 day. 



Gradually the size of the sailing vessel increased but progress was 

 slow because such increase demanded more power to drive the larger 

 hull. So more masts were added to take more sail before and aft of 



