G.E. Rodolakis: At Preveza’s shipyards in the second half of the 18th centur
Preveza, under Venetian domination from 1715 to her destruction by Ali pasha in 1789, boomed and became an important commercial and maritime centre with a considerable ship-building activity.
In this framework of commercial and maritime activity in Preveza at that era belong two certificates under oath of caulkers issued in 1753 and 1762 respectively. These certificates are the only known documents of that kind from all over Venetian- and Ottoman-occupied Greece.
The discussion is preceded by an introductory section on caulking, i.e. the works aiming at insulating the wooden sail boats. It is followed by an analysis of the two certificates under oath, which constitute, in my opinion, certificates of seaworthiness, an attempt to qualify the contracts for caulking in legal terms, a description of the rights and duties of contracting parties, and finally, few thoughts about the question of the law applied.
The article concludes with the publication of the certificates and a glossary of terms.
