The Harbours

Boats travelling along the coast took one day to cover the distance between two harbours. In the harbours, boats replenished their supplies of food and water, and in the markets, the shipments of boats were sold, giving an opportunity to buy new goods. In this manner, boats gained from the difference in prices from harbour to harbour, while on the other hand they would reach their destination with a different load from the one they started off with. Also, stopping in harbours gave passengers the opportunity to see the town, to trade or even stay there. In emergencies, boats could also stop in bays, where they would be protected from bad weather or the raids of pirates. Besides, boats could always procure water at the bay's well.

All the big harbours were connected with the countryside by roads or rivers, thus turning them into big trading centres. There, travellers who wanted to continue their journey changed means of transport. The harbour cities like Smyrna, Thessaloniki or Constantinople concentrated the interests of the commercial world as they embodied a central point in the transport of goods.

Usually, harbours had a wooden berth, the so-called "staircase", to which sailing boats accosted to load and unload. Stone breakwaters were built on some of them for better protection.

Many harbours were shallow allowing only small boats to enter them. Indeed, changes were very scarcely done to harbours. Big boats had to drop anchor at some distance from the shore, and the loading-unloading was done by small boats only. They had torches and fires for a lighthouse, which were lit at night somewhere along the port.

There was a group of officials who were responsible for the functioning, cleanliness, sanitary control and collection of custom duties for the entry and mooring of boats at all harbours. Captains had to provide themselves different papers that gave them free movement in the seas of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Apart from pirating, which infested the seas of the time, there were epidemics. These were often transported from harbour to harbour on boats, and were the second big enemy of the crew and the passengers. The hygienic measures of the Empire were inadequate, and even when they were foreseen, they were not kept up. In some harbours, such as in Chios, Irakleio and Hydra, there were lazarettes where boats entered with the crew for 8 to 21 days. This was often disrespected though, which resulted in illnesses expanding through the cities and the country.

Button