Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Legendary Ships and Their Evolution Course

This course takes you on a journey through maritime history, exploring the innovations in ship design and construction that produced iconic vessels, from Viking longships to the great ocean liners. You will analyze their cultural, technological and economic impact in different periods, gaining a unique perspective on where engineering, history and adventure meet in the world of navigation.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
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About the program

What is the Legendary Ships and Their Evolution Course?

This short course follows the evolution of the ship through the vessels that marked each era. You will study the first craft, from logs and rafts to rowed vessels; the link between naval technology and civilisation; early hulls, materials and propulsion; what makes a ship legendary; shipyards and the transmission of shipbuilding knowledge; Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek and Roman ships; galleys, triremes and dromons; Viking ships; dhows and junks; the cog, the nao and the carrack; the caravel, the galleon and the ship of the line; and the industrial revolution of steam, iron and steel, with clippers, ironclads, cruisers, submarines, destroyers and the great transatlantic liners.

What sets this course apart: each ship is analyzed both technically and historically, from its hull, rig and propulsion to its role in trade, war, exploration and science; a comparative method that sets ships from different periods side by side by mission, architecture, materials and geopolitical context; attention to the symbolic prestige that turned certain ships into legends; plans, models and images that help you read a ship's design; and a final project in which you write a monograph on the evolution, technical contribution and legacy of an emblematic vessel of your choice.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Foundations of shipbuilding: early craft, materials, hull forms, sail and oar.
  • Ancient and medieval ships: galleys, triremes, dromons, Viking ships, dhows, junks and carracks.
  • Age of discovery: caravels, naos, galleons and the rise of the ship of the line.
  • Industrial revolution: steam, iron and steel hulls, the propeller, clippers and ironclads.
  • New ship types: submarines, destroyers and the legendary transatlantic liners.
  • Final project: a monograph on the evolution and legacy of an emblematic ship.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Legendary Ships and Their Evolution Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Historical foundations of shipbuilding and the birth of legendary ships as expressions of power, trade and exploration

  • 1.1. The origins of navigation and the first craft: logs, rafts, rowed vessels and primitive structures for water transport
  • 1.2. The relationship between naval technology and civilisation: trade, war, exploration and territorial control by sea
  • 1.3. Materials, hull forms and propulsion systems in the early evolution of the ship: wood, sail, oar and hybrid solutions
  • 1.4. What makes a ship legendary: technical innovation, historical impact, symbolic value and cultural endurance
  • 1.5. Shipyards, building know-how and the transmission of shipbuilding knowledge in different maritime cultures
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Legendary vessels of antiquity and the Middle Ages: innovation, maritime expansion and control of strategic routes

  • 2.1. Ships of the ancient world: Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek and Roman vessels as engines of trade and naval warfare
  • 2.2. Galleys, triremes and dromons: architecture, tactics and military importance of classical and Byzantine ships
  • 2.3. Viking ships and their revolution in maritime mobility: design, ocean navigation and Atlantic expansion
  • 2.4. Vessels of the medieval Islamic and Asian worlds: dhows, junks and their role in intercontinental trade networks
  • 2.5. The cog, the nao and the medieval carrack: transformation of European sea transport and the transition to ocean navigation
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Legendary ships of the age of discovery and imperial expansion: from the caravel to the ship of the line

  • 3.1. The caravel as a platform for exploration: maneuverability, endurance and its role in opening new ocean routes
  • 3.2. Naos, galleons and the great ships of imperial trade: structure, cargo, artillery and safety on transoceanic voyages
  • 3.3. Emblematic vessels of maritime expansion: historical and technical analysis of ships linked to great expeditions
  • 3.4. The war galleon and the consolidation of European naval power: armament, convoys and control of strategic routes
  • 3.5. From the armed merchantman to the ship of the line: evolution of naval doctrine and of design for combat in line of battle
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

The industrial revolution and the transformation of the modern ship: steam, steel, armor and new naval architectures

  • 4.1. From sail to steam: technological break and redefinition of endurance, speed and operational capacity
  • 4.2. Metal hulls, the propeller and propulsion machinery: structural and mechanical transition in modern naval engineering
  • 4.3. Legendary clippers, ironclads and cruisers: iconic ships of nineteenth-century commercial and military competition
  • 4.4. The emergence of the submarine, the destroyer and other new ship types that changed warfare and modern navigation
  • 4.5. Great transatlantic liners and legendary passenger ships: prestige, luxury, safety and the symbolism of the industrial age
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Comparative analysis of legendary ships and final project on the technical, historical and cultural evolution of an emblematic vessel

  • 5.1. Criteria for the historical and technical comparison of legendary ships: mission, architecture, propulsion, materials and geopolitical context
  • 5.2. Analysis of the impact of an emblematic ship on the naval, commercial, military or scientific history of its time
  • 5.3. The relationship between technological innovation and symbolic prestige in the building of ships considered legendary
  • 5.4. Methodology for preparing a monograph on a historic or contemporary reference vessel
  • 5.5. Development of the final project: choice of ship, analysis of its evolution, technical contributions and assessment of its legacy
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Legendary Ships and Their Evolution Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Legendary Ships and Their Evolution Course

01Explain how ship design evolved from the earliest craft to the modern ship, relating changes in hull, materials and propulsion to the needs of each period.
02Analyze what makes a ship legendary, weighing technical innovation, historical impact, symbolic value and the place the ship has kept in popular culture.
03Interpret plans, models and reconstructions of historic ships to understand their architecture, rig, armament and the life of the crews who sailed them.
04Relate the great ships of each era to the trade, warfare, exploration and science of their time, including the routes and naval doctrines they made possible.
05Compare ships from different periods using consistent criteria of mission, architecture, propulsion, materials and geopolitical context.
06Research and present the history of an emblematic vessel rigorously, using historical sources to assess its technical contribution and its legacy.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Legendary Ships and Their Evolution Course

01Maritime history communicatoreducational and entertainment content about legendary ships.
02Specialist guidetours of naval museums and historic sites linked to emblematic vessels.
03Historical replica consultantadvice on the construction and operation of replicas of historic ships.
04Writer or researcherbooks and articles on the history and evolution of legendary ships.
05Video game and simulation designerinteractive experiences centered on historic ships and navigation.
06Documentary makerfilms and documentaries on the history and cultural impact of legendary ships.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Legendary Ships and Their Evolution Course

A combination of remarkable achievements, lasting historical impact, distinctive features or innovative design, and a lasting place in popular culture through stories, myths and legends.

Technology has been the main driver, changing hull forms, building materials and propulsion and navigation systems, and bringing greater speed, cargo capacity, strength and range from the first rafts to modern steel ships.

From the first craft and the ships of antiquity, through the Middle Ages and the age of discovery, to the industrial revolution with steam, steel, ironclads, submarines and the great liners.

Yes. Alongside European ships, it studies Egyptian and Phoenician vessels and the dhows and junks of the Islamic and Asian worlds and their role in intercontinental trade.

Yes. It explains the architecture, rig, propulsion and armament of each type of ship and how to read plans and reconstructions, which is useful for modeling projects.

No. Technical concepts are explained as they appear; a general interest in maritime history and basic knowledge of ship types is enough.

Through activities in each module and a final project in which you choose an emblematic ship and write a monograph on its evolution, technical contributions and legacy.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at naval history enthusiasts, ship modellers and sailors looking for technical detail, naval architecture students and professionals interested in the evolution of design, writers, historians and content creators who need accurate information on maritime history, and travelers interested in maritime culture; familiarity with the main periods of maritime history and basic knowledge of ship types is helpful, and an interest in ship modeling or historical reconstruction is a plus.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and software to view PDF documents, images and video.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $164 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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