Hombres de hierro en barcos de madera, vida y muerte en la mar en los siglos XVII y XVIII

Abstract

The aim of this thesis has been to investigate the different vicissitudes suffered by the “sea people” on board the ships of the time, and for this reason its title is “Men of iron in wooden ships”. An attempt has been made to describe in a documented manner many of the uses and customs that have developed throughout naval history. The time period covered in this work is from the 16th century to practically the beginning of the 19th century. Among the topics covered are the daily life on board, including food, drink, accommodation, discipline or punishment, and even sexual activity, without forgetting the aspect of health and diseases associated with the sea such as seasickness or scurvy. Despite also containing allusions to more technical notions such as the artillery on board, we wanted to prioritize the more human aspect of the sea, so it delves into issues such as the unknown role of women on board at this time or the importance of religion among sailors.