The early Middle Ages - the period spanning the centuries from V to XI. This is the time when the face of the world has changed significantly due to the invasion of the barbarians and the Great Migration of Peoples. Ancient culture was replaced in Europe by a new one, which partially absorbed the knowledge of Greece and Rome. However, in these, by the definition of many, dark times, progress did not stop. The processes that forced the tribes to look for a new place, made it necessary to improve military power and skills that contribute to both victory in the battle and rapid movement. Therefore, navigation and shipbuilding were actively developing. The best sailors of the early Middle Ages became such, mainly due to the need to resettle in new territories, rich in game, fish, fur-bearing animals, and minerals. For some nations, the incentive to tame the sea was the constant threat of enemy attacks.
Eastern Roman Empire
Byzantium was the last bastion of ancient culture. Here, for several centuries after the fall of the Western Roman Empire , the knowledge of the Greeks and Romans was preserved. Byzantium can rightfully be called a country where the best sailors of the early Middle Ages lived. The tradition of Roman shipbuilding continued here, but there were significant differences. The Roman fleet did not play the first role in defense. However, Byzantium, due to the peculiarities of its geographical position, was forced to build up naval power. Its medieval ships were originally built according to Roman models, but improved very quickly.
The threat of the Arab invasion
Modernization was promoted by militant Muslims who were actively moving towards the borders of the state. There was a need for a strong fleet that could repel the invaders. The single-tier dromons inherited from Rome began to transform into larger ships with two tiers, 25 oars each and slanting Latin sails. Depending on the modification, dromons could accommodate from 100 to 200 people, some of which were supposed to row throughout the voyage, and some fought during the battle. Initially, the dromons were equipped with rams, but with a change in the concept of battle, they were replaced with arrows, and then with Greek fire, the most powerful weapon of the Byzantine fleet.
On the dromons, the Byzantines repelled the attacks of the Arabs, defended their territory in the Mediterranean basin, repelled a large number of attacks on Constantinople.
Desired booty
Byzantine dromons, as well as Italian galleys, were appreciated not only by their masters, but also by their enemies. Another early medieval sailor, the vandals, often used captured ships to attack European powers. Under King Heyserich they, using such ships, took Sicily, ravaged Rome and a few years later defeated the Byzantine fleet.
Barbarians could not boast of centuries-old traditions of shipbuilding, they had to quickly master the technologies developed in the ancient world, experimentally find the optimal parameters of the vessel. It is not surprising, therefore, that they actively sought to get enemy dromons and galleys. The Byzantines tried to slow down the development of the seamen as a barbarian. One of the consequences of this was the law, according to which anyone who trained a barbarian in shipbuilding was sentenced to death.
Fleet of vandals
The great migration of peoples led to the acquaintance of European countries with different tribes of barbarians. Among them were vandals, perhaps not the best sailors of the early Middle Ages, but very quickly trained. In the V century, they ravaged Gaul, occupied Spain and in 429 left for Africa, where ten years later, together with the Alans, they founded a kingdom that covered the territory of modern Tunisia, north-western Libya and north-eastern Algeria.
Since the beginning of the V century, vandals have actively mastered the open spaces of the sea. By the time the kingdom was formed in northern Africa, they had a fairly combat-ready fleet. The crews on ships for the most part consisted of alien warriors and sailors. The vandals themselves were part of the leadership team. Their ships, adapted for robberies and raids, accommodated up to 40-50 people.
Friezes
Seafarers of the early Middle Ages Franks, who often fought with vandals, are also not quite worthy of the title of the best. Until about the 11th century, they used random ships. And only a little later, the Franks began to build naves, ships with high sides, deck superstructures and two stern rudders. In the vicinity of the Franks, friezes are located, according to many researchers, the best sailors of the early Middle Ages. The Franks repeatedly tried to conquer them. Friezes were subordinate to the empire only at the end of the VIII century.
Ever since antiquity they have been known as excellent merchants. Friezes monopolized all transport on the Rhine and the North Sea, were famous for the best intermediaries in trade matters. They were trusted because they did not rob, unlike the Vikings. This allowed the friezes to significantly enrich themselves and actually become the founders of the North Sea culture.
Merchant ships
Friezes used koggy and hulki. The first type of ships was distinguished by a flat bottom, which gave it an advantage in coastal navigation. Masters of shipbuilding provided for in the design of ships the possibility of lossless stranded at low tide and surfaced when the tide begins.
The hulks had a round bottom, low sides, a long tank and stern, which were necessary to control the vessel. The Hulks were not equipped with a steering wheel, they were controlled with the help of two oars located just on the stern and bow. Ships well adapted to the conditions of the North Sea made it possible to raise the Frisians not only financially, but also culturally.
Vikings
However, the Vikings still occupy the first place in the list of “Best Sailors of the Early Middle Ages”. Those of them who inhabited Scandinavia received the name "Normans" among Europeans. Since childhood, the sea has been an essential part of life for every Viking. Their achievements in navigation led not only to numerous and rather successful raids on England, France and the Mediterranean coast, but also to the development of the territory of Iceland and Greenland, as well as to the discovery of America.
The best sailors of the early Middle Ages, the Normans knew how to navigate the sun and stars. In addition, in the sagas there is a mention of a certain “sun stone”, which allowed the Vikings to find the right direction. According to scientists, it was a plaque with a piece of magnetic iron fixed on it. A study of finds discovered in Greenland in 1951 suggests that the Vikings also knew a device very similar to a compass. It was probably a 32-mark wooden disc rotating on a handle fixed in the center. He was oriented to the cardinal points, using the stars and the sun for this, and determined by his direction.
Drakkar
The naval power of the Vikings would not be so impressive if they did not possess the necessary knowledge in the field of shipbuilding. Drakkars, warships, were a model of superior skill. They had high stern and bow, sides protected by shields. The stern was decorated with the head of a dragon, which gave the name to the ship. Drakkars moved thanks to the sail and oars, could reach speeds of up to 10-12 knots. On them, the Vikings made their devastating raids and journeys to unknown shores.
The development of shipbuilding and navigation during the early Middle Ages gradually increased pace. The accumulated knowledge about orientation in the open sea and the creation of ships suitable for ocean crossings laid the foundation for the great geographical discoveries that followed several hundred years later.