Book Reviews
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
BOOK REVIEWS Walter L. Friedrich (translated by Alexander equally correct. At times I found the presenta- R. McBirney). Fire in the Sea. The Santorini tion of some of the basic data to be rather dry, Volcano: Natural History and the Legend of but just as such thoughts would occur to me, Atlantis. Cambridge: Cambridge University the author switched to a more engaging synthe- Press, 2000. xiv + 256 pp., colour illustrations, sis of what it all meant. photographs, maps, figures, tables, appendices, I found myself rather envious of the bibliography, index. US $34.95, cloth; ISBN 0- author's ability to discuss and explain detailed 521-65290-1. data without being boring. Some of this may be due to the excellent translation of the 1994 Fire in the Sea by Walter L. Friedrich is the German edition by Alexander R. McBirney. natural history of the Santorini Volcano in the Often translations are a little stilted. Not being Mediterranean Sea. It includes discussion of able to read German I cannot compare the Atlantis legend, which has been linked by McBirney's translation to the original, but it many scholars to Santorini, and the historical does read very well, eliciting interest and and archaeological evidence that has been used excitement. to connect the two. But the author's main focus As the volume was originally published in is not only to present the natural history of the 1994 the references are not absolutely current. volcano but also to show how that history was But the text is so well referenced that anyone reconstructed. In general, it will appeal to those wishing to delve more deeply into any of the interested in maritime environmental recon- disciplines involved will have no problem in so structions and their use to predict future doing. For anyone wishing to understand the changes, as well as to those interested more changes in the maritime environment of the specifically in the eastern Mediterranean and eastern Mediterranean, Friedrich's work is an one of its most publicized mysteries. excellent starting point. References to the As an archaeologist with a long-time (but maritime history of the region is not as exten- very casual) interest in the issue of Santorini sive as they might have been, but they do form and the Atlantis legend, I was at first a little a reasonable start for a non-specialist. disappointed that there was not more discus- Enhancing the text are 166 colour illustra- sion of the archaeology of the Bronze Age. tions. These range from diagrams and com- Despite this, I was quickly drawn into the puter reconstructions of the changes to the natural history of the island and the environ- island of Santorini over time to photographs of mental reconstruction, which I found to be geological formations, fossils, archaeological every bit as fascinating as the possible connec- materials and landscapes. There are ample time tion to the Atlantis legend. lines based on various data and reproductions Friedrich's discussion of topics used to of historical drawings. All of these highlight establish the natural history, such as plate the spectacular maritime setting. Given the tectonics, stratigraphy and plant remains, usual high cost of colour illustrations I am a sometimes becomes quite technical. Inset little surprised at the moderate price of the boxes are included to explain the tools used for book. the reconstruction. If, for instance, you under- There are three appendices included in the stand the techniques to establish chronologies, volume. The first is a translation of Plato's you can continue reading without distraction. I dialogues: Timaeus and Critias. The context of found the technical explanations of the tools the Atlantis legend would be clearer if the with which I am most familiar to be very well excerpts from Plato started slightly sooner. done, which gives me confidence that the This is particularly true of the Timaeus seg- explanations with which I am less familiar are ment. Starting Timaeus earlier would make it 61 62 The Northern Mariner more apparent that Plato is describing a " The book begins with a brief discourse on homework" assignment and plans to make a the break-up of the super-continent, some early presentation of the resulting story in a contest. philosophy about the nature of the world, and For a quick review of this issue see Kenneth early cartographic plotting of the extent of the Feder' s Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science known world and terra incognita, or the un- and Pseudoscience in Archaeology (Mountain known southern land presumed to balance the View, CA, 1990). The second and third appen- northern hemisphere. Thereafter, the book is dices list animal and plant remains recovered logically divided into roughly chronological from Santorini. These are of particular interest sections that detail the attempts of the Portu- to those with research interests that involve guese, Spanish, Dutch, French and British to understanding the changes in the eastern Medi- expand their trading empires. It is during the terranean. long voyages around Africa to the Indies that Other than a few errors, such as mis-tran- accidental discoveries began, partly as a result scribed directions on page 19 and missing of incomplete knowledge of the means of colours in figure 13.9, I found little to criticize measuring longitude. Each chapter explains the and much to commend. This is a detailed but differing reasons for the nations' involvement readable example of the detective work re- in the Pacific and Indian oceans and is well quired to reconstruct maritime environments supported by endnotes that, together with the and to comprehend how changes have copious bibliography, attest to the author's impacted humanity in the past and how scholarly approach. they likely will in the future. The struggle between Portugal and Spain during their attempts to extend the boundaries Richard Callaghan of the known world is well described as the Calgary, Alberta gradual growth of belief in a terra australis. Accounts of the gradual and piecemeal chart- ing of the coastline of the land that was to Miriam Estensen. Discovery: The Quest for the become Australia are well written in simple, Great South Land. New York: St. Martin's easily understood layman's language, with Press, 2000. x + 286 pp., illustrations, notes, nautical, geographic and archaic terms clearly bibliography, index. US $24.95, paperback; explained. The author's vision is never partial ISBN 0-312-21756-0. or personalised, maintaining a careful objectiv- ity, though without ever losing the sense of Let it be stated at the outset that Miriam excitement in the urge to discover new lands. Estensen has produced a thoroughly absorbing The attractive illustrations of medieval ships and entertaining book. The author's intention add to the enjoyment of the book, though it is is to trace the complex series of accidental a pity that the small maps [7 and 132] were not discoveries and deliberately-funded expedi- augmented by others that showed the progress tions that eventually led to a complete charting of discovery against the known map of Austra- of the Australia's coastline, the "great south lia today, which would aid the understanding land" of the title. It is a fascinating tale that of the general reader. Apart from a very small reads at times like a carefully-crafted detective misprint of "east" for "west" [223], the only novel. There are elements of scientific theory other criticism that can be made is the rather and religious debate, mercantilist politics, abrupt ending; the book ends without conclud- dynastic rivalries, personal greed, betrayal and ing the story of discoveries of the east coast of intrigue, all of which are interwoven with a Australia by James Cook. patchwork of tragic shipwrecks and tales of Overall, this is a fascinating and thor- extraordinary endurance and bravery. The oughly enjoyable account of the endeavours of thread that runs through the narrative of these brave and driven men who extended knowl- voyages of discovery is the desire to extend edge and trade at a high cost in human life and human knowledge, which is an eternal quest. dynastic treasure. This book should be enjoyed Book Reviews 63 by specialist and general reader alike and is widely circulated. In that volume, Landström thoroughly recommended. included representations in miniature of the key historical representations that inspired his Stuart Thomson efforts to represent early sailing ships. Watchfield, UK Wheatley does not do this, although he does create very precise, colorful images of ships. Of the ninety-one plates, twenty-six are of Joseph Wheatley (plates) and Stephen Howarth ( specific vessels. The balance are representa- text). Historic Sail: The Glory of the Sailing tions of a type, reconstructed from a variety of Ship from the 13th to the 19th Century. Lon- visual images. Examples include "A Cinque don: Greenhill Books, 2000. 206 pp., 91 plates, Ports cog of 1300; an Iberian nao, 1530-1590; glossary, bibliography. £40, cloth; ISBN 1- a mercantile brig, 1850; and a Scottish tea 85367-399-4. clipper, 1869. Representations from archaeo- logical evidence include the Bremen cog, Mary The covers of this oversized volume measure a Rose and Wasa, while those based on models bit over one square foot and encompass include the Mataró votive carrack of 1450; São illustrations and text on selected historic ship Felipe of 1586; a Venetian naval galley, 1570; types from the thirteenth to the nineteenth and Naseby/Royal Charles, 1655-1667. centuries. The size is necessary for such a task. Readers will appreciate Howarth's com- The illustrations are beautifully executed, and panion text to each illustration by Stephen the interpretation of ship types offered will Howarth which identifies the inspiration for challenge the reader.