ShipsandScience.com

Although ships have been considered a vital part of our history for hundreds of years, it is during the 17^th and 18^th century when shipbuilding really became a science and many historic ships were born. Some of the famous ships built during the 17^th century was the Mayflower and the Vasa. The Mayflower was the ship on which the Pilgrims sailed from Plymouth harbor to New England in America in 1620. The Mayflower was a merchant sailing ship large enough to carry 100 passengers. Upon its first sail in 1628, the Vasa capsized and sunk in Stockholm due to a serious design fault. The ship was too narrow for her length and was too top heavy from carrying guns on the upper deck. Luckily, the French fixed the design flaw and learned how to build large, stable, heavily-armed battleships.

During the 18^th century ships were a major component of the East Indian companies. These were merchant ships that sailed under the aid of armed merchants known as East Indianmen, who carried bullion of silver and gold to buy the riches of the East such as tea, furniture, and spices, as well as Chinese jade and jewelry. These ships were heavily armed to fend off any pirates. Some characteristics of 18^th century ships included quarter galleries, ornate glass windows, and room on the poop decks for livestock such as sheep and goats.