Boats were important ways to travel around the ancient world. Travelling on rivers would have been much swifter, in most cases, than travelling by land before modern roads were built. Boats would also have been able to carry much more cargo than pack animals and most early wheeled vehicles. Sea crossings would have been dangerous but were important trade routes. Here are some pictures and models of boats from the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Model boat from Ur

Model of a boat made of bitumen from Ur in southern Iraq, 2300 – 2100 BC.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/b/bitumen_boat_model.aspx

Model boat from Egypt

Wooden model of a boat from Egypt, 1900 BC.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/b/bitumen_boat_model.aspx

Travelling by boat in Egypt

The Egyptian official Nebamun and his family riding in a boat made of reeds, about 1350 BC.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/collectionimages/AN00244/AN00244330_001_l.jpg

Ship from Assyria

An Assyrian sculpture showing a ship, 704 – 681 BC.

See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/fragment-of-a-stone-panel-from-the-south-west-palace-of-sennacherib/nwEsXfnF67bZZQ

Boat from Roman Africa

A boat from Roman Africa, about 200 AD.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?searchText=Greek%20ship&images=true&ILINK|34484,|assetId=306677&objectId=399722&partId=1

Model boat from Cyprus

A terracotta model of a Cypriot ship, 750 – 500 BC.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=400180&partId=1&searchText=Greek+ship&images=true&page=5

Ships from Greece

A Greek warship and a Greek merchant ship on a drinking cup, 520 – 500 BC.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?searchText=Greek%20ship&images=true&ILINK|34484,|assetId=226946&objectId=399714&partId=1