This profusely illustrated book presents a comprehensive chronological account of the development of sea travel from the 14th century up to the present.  This book reveals how the needs of travellers and technological innovation have, over the years, impacted sea travel.  The transportation of men, goods and horses by the crusaders and pilgrims to the Holy land required larger ships than those in existence which spurred ship development.  Wars and piracy forced merchant vessels to then carry artillery.  Fierce competition on the Far East trade route led to the devlopment of speedy clipper ships.  Expanding commercial enterprise rasied the bar and lead to steam propulsion and iron contruction.  Steamship lines were founded and the era of the great ocean liners was born. Later in the 20th century, ship travel reached its apex for speed on the North Atlantice route becoming a matter of national prestige that only declined with the advent of jet aircraft as a means of mass transportation.  More recently, newer requirements for increased leisure ensured the survival of passenger ship's in the guise of a cruise ship.  The major sections of this book are as follows: 1) The Middle Ages - from Knorr to Galleon; 2) Passengers, Pirates and Privateers; 3) From Slave Ship to Clipper Ship; 4) Perils of the Sea; 5) Emigration under sail; 6) Steam Challenges Sail; 7) Steam and Sail in the 1870's; 8) The Development of the Steamship, 1884 to 1914; 9) Between the Wars - Atlantic Liners and Cruise Ships; 10) The Normandie and the Queen Mary: Rival Superliners on the Atlantic and 11) The Modern Passenger Ship.  In the end, the book, "Seven Centuries Of Sea Travel", presents a vivid picture of the realities of sea travel, including its perils over seven centuries in part by related the accounts of early travellers like those of the explorers Vasco da Gama and Cabot to descriptions of life aboard the latest lines.  In addition to a very informative text, this book includes 327 black and white illustrations and 30 color illustrations.  This book is sure to appeal to anyone interested in ships history and sea travel.  This book is 296 pages and is in very good condition.  The author is Basil W. Bathe.  Edition published in 1973.