As I will show, the ship is a system consisting of a carefully designed physical space and natural elements, together with social, emotional, and (cross)cultural components that interact and intersect on board. In this sense, the ship is without a doubt the most compelling agent of cross-cultural exchange in the sixteenth-century Mediterranean. The theme of this volume is to explore and record the variety of contacts and modes of cultural (and artistic) exchange in the late medieval and early modern periods, primarily facilitated by the medium of water (rivers, seas, etc.). The reason for this is that not only will God Almighty richly reward such good deeds of charity, but the recipients of such benefits will never forget to repay them.” 1 Bernhard Walter von Waltersweil, 1587 In any case let no traveler neglect to show charity to those who are ill and in need, no matter what their nation or religion, by offering them food and drink and such things. For great misfortune can sometimes arise from such behavior. All travelers should avoid arguments about matters of belief with any Turk, Jew, Greek, Armenian or any other such people who might happen also to be on board, and should do nothing to vex them. “When, then, the anchors had been weighed and the hearts of those embarked had been raised with pious prayer and they had commended their souls to God, and when the ship had begun to cut through the water, getting under way with set sails before a fair, foul or indifferent wind, then the pilgrim may gradually take what opportunities present themselves carefully and unobtrusively try to get to know the other passengers, the patron (Captain), the scriban and the other officers and make friends with them, so that they might the more willingly give him any help and succor he might need in the future.
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