Frontier on the Water: Conflict and Interaction of Balkan-Black Sea Shipbuilding Traditions of the 16th and 18th Centuries

Abstract

The article considers the directions of mutual influence of shipbuilding traditions in the Black Sea basin and in the area of the European frontier of the 16th - 18th centuries, the process of evolution of specific shipbuilding forms. The article is based on written evidence of the 16th - 17th centuries, research results of documents of the Ottoman Empire, archival documents and printed documents on the history of the Russian fleet of the 18th century, archeological data, reference books on shipbuilding of the Age of Sail. It is proved that as a result of mutual influence, the Ottoman Empire increased the use of small river and sea vessels. In particular, these were Ottoman chaikas that protected the mouths of the Danube and Dnipro against the Cossacks raids. On the other hand, the Danube saikas and Cossacks chaikas evolved in the direction of increasing their artillery power and versatility due to the confrontation with Ottoman ships. This mutual influence took place in the conditions of permanent militarization of the life of the European frontier. However, it was positive, because it stimulated the development of various sectors of the economy of the countries and peoples of the European frontier.