Philip Reid: The Merchant Ship in the British Atlantic, 1600–1800: Continuity and Innovation in a Key Technology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Pink
Keyword(s):  
Key Technology ◽  
British Atlantic ◽  
Merchant Ship

Something ventured: Dangers and risk mitigation for the ordinary British Atlantic merchant ship, 1600–1800

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-212
Author(s):  
Phillip F Reid
Keyword(s):  
Driving Force ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Archaeological Evidence ◽  
British Atlantic ◽  
Continuity And Change ◽  
Innovative Research ◽  
Merchant Ship ◽  
Disruptive Innovations ◽  
Hull Design ◽  
Technological History

Using diverse sources, including archaeological evidence, this paper scrutinises the technology of the ordinary British Atlantic merchant ship, assessing continuity and change during the formation and development of the Atlantic empire (1600–1800). The paper argues that observable continuities and changes in rig, in hull design, and in defensive armament were responses to risks posed to owners, builders, and crews. I state that ‘risk mitigation’ was the main policy of the actors involved in the business, thus suggesting an innovative research path to assess decisions to innovate and decisions not to. This can thus contribute to a better understanding of Atlantic and technological history, as well as to an understanding of risk mitigation as a driving force in business and technology, beyond the more commonly used concept of disruptive innovations. Naturally, changes did take place, and investigate why that is helps us understand the continuity more fully, and ship technology more fully.

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