Fifty Ships that Changed the Course of History

From the Stone Age to the present day, no invention has shaped civilisation more profoundly than the ship. Boats and ships enabled settlement, conquest and exploration, determining the victors of wars and facilitating the spread of cultures, ideas and trade across the globe.

Fifty Ships that Changed the Course of History offers more than a celebration of maritime achievement – it is a history of the world told through the vessels that altered its course. Each entry explores a ship that influenced human progress, from ancient craft to modern giants, revealing how they transformed societies and redefined global connections.

Lavishly illustrated with art and photographs, the book brings to life the evolution of seafaring and its impact on humanity. It is a fascinating guide to how people have gone to sea in every age and how these voyages have shaped the course of history itself.

About the Author

Ian Graham has written and co-authored more than 200 books on science, technology and transport, as well as numerous magazine articles. He holds a degree in applied physics and a postgraduate diploma in journalism. His work has earned several awards, including the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize (2012) and a shortlist for the Educational Writers’ Award (2014).