Sailing from Polis to Empire 2

Harbours, Ships, and the Western Connection in the Hellenistic Mediterranean

Book cover: Sailing from Polis to Empire 2

Extent: 194 pages

Publisher: Wiley-VCH

Subjects: Classical Studies, Mediterranean Archaeology

Language: English, French

Paperback (Forthcoming)

(January 2027)

ISBN: 9781805832737

7.99 x 10.91 inches

Price: $76.00

This volume explores ships, harbours and maritime connectivity in the Hellenistic Mediterranean. Through a series of case studies, it examines how seafaring linked the western and eastern Mediterranean, offering new perspectives on trade, transport and maritime networks during an understudied period of ancient history.


Sailing from Polis to Empire 2 explores the relationship between ships, harbours, and maritime connectivity in the Hellenistic Mediterranean, with particular attention to the links between its eastern and western regions. Bringing together archaeological, historical, and interdisciplinary approaches, the contributions investigate how maritime infrastructure, nautical technologies, and navigation practices shaped the movement of people, goods, and ideas across the Mediterranean.

Through a series of case studies, the volume examines the development and transformation of ancient harbours, their adaptation to changing environmental and economic conditions, and the role of ships in connecting coastal communities. It also highlights the importance of archaeological evidence, experimental research, and new methodological approaches for understanding the organisation and dynamics of maritime networks.

Building on the first volume of Sailing from Polis to Empire (Open Book Publishers, 2020), devoted to Hellenistic merchantmen and sailing, this second volume broadens the investigation to the interaction between ships, harbours, and the wider Mediterranean world, offering new perspectives on maritime connectivity during the Hellenistic period.