Michael of Rhodes Rediscovered: The Lost Book of a Medieval Mariner David McGee (Co-Director of the Michael of Rhodes Project, Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology, Burndy Library, MIT) University of Toronto, October 20, 2006

David McGee from the Burndy Library at MIT presented to us the manuscript of Michael of Rhodes, a unique look into the intellectual life of a fifteenth century commoner. Lost for 400 years, McGee exhibited the manuscript as the life’s experience of a common mariner who worked his way through the ranks from oarsman to the highest non-noble post in the Venetian fleet. And, in turn, that life explains some anomalies about the manuscript itself.

Filled with mathematical problems, tables of calendar dates, navigational calculations and ship schematics, the book contains much of the knowledge required to outfit and direct both individual ships and entire fleets. Curiously, however, the work lacks technical detail and contains errors in many places. McGee contends the work is not an instructional manual or a personal aid but was used to exhibit the seasoned mariner’s knowledge to the nobles, merchants, and important citizens of Venice. The highest posts in the Venetian fleet were won in highly contested elections and the manuscript was created to set Michael above similarly experienced Venetian citizens. The expense of such an undertaking illustrates the life-long zeal of a foreign commoner to insert himself into the highest positions of Venetian society.

Those attending were amazed by the condition of the manuscript, save for the final, well worn, page. Containing Michael’s illustration of St. Christopher bearing the Baby Jesus, it was often touched for luck on Michael’s long voyages around the known world.