| History of boating may take you to more that ten | | | | be easily maneuverable. As a result, the standard |
| thousand years ago. People have relied on boats | | | | boat design for war was a long and narrow ship, |
| since long it has been an effective means of | | | | powered by several rows of oars. Ancient Greek |
| transportation for many years now and still is. Many | | | | warships reached 118 feet in length and required |
| historians believe that the it was the Greeks in the | | | | more than 170 oarsmen. Cargo ships were designed |
| ancient times who first began exploring the Aegean | | | | to carry as much as possible with the smallest crew. |
| Sea. The mountainous terrain of Greece contributed | | | | Over time, cargo boats became rounder and higher, |
| to the importance of boating; travel through sea | | | | to transport more trade goods and ensure that the |
| became the easiest and the most economical way | | | | upper decks were above the waterline. Even the |
| for the ancient Greeks to trade goods. | | | | navigation was an art in itself. It is said that the birth |
| Many clay tablets have been found belonging to the | | | | of 'art of navigation' took place during the time period |
| time period of ancient Egypt, that is may be even | | | | of 3500 B.C. |
| more than 6000 years ago where they have | | | | When the navigators stay closed to the shore and |
| represented and hinted about the sea travel. The | | | | had specific landmarks while traveling till their |
| Egyptians relied on boats and the Nile river to travel | | | | destination is reached. And when they did venture |
| and transport goods. While many of the boats from | | | | out of sight of land, the navigator was able to |
| ancient Egypt bore a striking Resemblance to rowed | | | | determine his latitude by observing the height of the |
| boats still in use today, others were used to | | | | sun during the day and the North Star at night. Later |
| transport building materials and monuments and could | | | | when they became experienced at these it was the |
| be as long as 300 feet. These transports Boats were | | | | constellation of stars they depended upon. As the |
| even longer than any of the wooden warships built | | | | time passed many instruments from cross-staff and |
| during the 17th and 18th centuries. | | | | astrolabe to the present days GPS system were |
| The design and construction of ancient boats | | | | developed to help making boating a pleasant |
| reflected their use. Ancient warships had to be fast, | | | | experience. |
| large enough to carry soldiers, and it is supposed to | | | | |