Piracy has been around since ancient times but was especially prevalent during the days of European exploration, and still occurs in some parts of the world. Learn some of the devious methods pirates used to overpower victim ships and...

A timeline showing the events leading up to the War of 1812. It begins in 1793 with hostilities between the French and the British when the British overpowered American merchant ships that were trading with the French. It continues in a...

View the Smithsonian's collection of patent models that demonstrate marine inventions from the 1770s to the 1950s that attempted to change and improve the challenges Americans encountered working and traveling on the water.

This article presents information on the development of Keels, Hulks, and Cogs, the ships of Medieval Europe. Includes diagrams, illustrations, and explanations.

A gallery of pictures of ships that have been used throughout history for transportation.

Learn about the ups and downs in Cape Verde's history, first as a Portuguese colony, then as a people seeking independence from Portugal. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.

Imagine a boat still existing today from 1797 that actually fought in the War of 1812! That's the USS Constitution that is now a museum in Boston Harbor. Here's a bit about Old Ironsides and what it was like to be "at sea" back in those...

Examine the primary sources provided by Great Britain's National Archives to discover the state of the prison system in late 18th century Great Britain, and the conditions on the prison ships used because of the prison system. Read court...

An exceptional historical web site devoted to the Titanic of today, developed by the RMS Titanic organization. Included are hisoritcal facts about the ship, a timeline, mythbusters and a FAQs section.

The complete text of a famous slave narrative from the late 18th century (1789), it tells the story on how Equiano is captured in Africa, transported to the Americas and his experiences as a slave. It provides rich details about the...

Part I, Introduction and Background; Part II, Fighting Bismarck; and Part III, Conclusion and Sources provide the exciting story of the sinking of the Bismarck by the combined Royal Navy. Basic facts about each ship are supplied such as...

This site provides a fascinating look at British Columbia's history through the Times Colonist reports on shipwrecks off Vancouver Island from the 1800s up to more recent years.

Experience the USS Monitor, the ironclad boat of the Civil War. With this resource, students can read and hear letters from sailors detailing their day-to-day life on board, learn about the history of the Monitor, and find out about the...

This lesson plan discusses the American initiative to open Japan to western trade. It also features a biography of Commodore Perry, an exploration of the Japanese class system, and various learning activities.

Pinckney's Treaty was a diplomatic success for the new nations. It resolved territorial issues between Spain and America and opened the Mississippi for navigation by American ships. Study how this treaty originated and read about the...

After analyzing the engraving and accompanying text, students will discuss the point of view of the resources using a compare and contrast diagram.

Listen to the oral histories of four men and one woman who worked in America's shipyards and aboard her cargo ships during World War II to keep American armed forces supplied with machinery and ammunition.

The Point Atkinson Lighthouse,built to protect the shipping trade of a growing Vancouver, is profiled. This is the history of the lighthouse ..from early, isolated days to the lives of the keepers of the lighthouse and their families to...

An essay on John Paul Jones and a history of the American flags he flew on his ships. The essay was written shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.

The origins of the United States Sanitary Commission is discussed and its work in the aid of Union soldiers of the Civil War, trying "to do what the Government could not" for soldiers. From "The Photographic History of the Civil War" by...

Read about the history of the steamboat and the difficult transition that led to the eventual relinquishing of a ship's sails. This article is a transcript of a radio broadcast.

In this design challenge, students learn about the Vikings from an engineering point-of-view. While investigating the history and anatomy of Viking ships, they learn how engineering solutions are shaped by the surrounding environment and...

This website has information about Nordic ships and replicas. There are descriptions, photos and drawings aplenty at this site.

In 1954, an Egyptian archeologist discovered an immense, beautifully crafted ship buried in pieces right beside the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Now fully reassembled, this extraordinary royal craft, one of the oldest planked vessels in the...