The needs of civil and military shipbuilding have profoundly influenced Italian forests over a long historical period. As with other cases, the management of forests for shipbuilding intertwined with other economic functions of the forest, in some cases complementary, such as grazing in the forest, in other cases competitive, such as the production of charcoal or poles. There is no doubt, however, that the demand for timber for naval fleets historically represents one of the most important activities that has influenced the forest landscape from north to south of Italy. As for military needs, a growing influence on forests is observed with the progressive assertion of Rome’s dominance over the Mediterranean Sea. Around the second century, the fleet had steadily reached 280 ships, between triremes and quinqueremes. Venice represents the most important case for shipbuilding and the management of the forests in medieval times. In addition to the oak (50%) used for the keel and outside planking, 40% of the necessary timber was made up of conifers, especially Norway spruce (Picea excelsa) and larch (Larix decidua Mill.), while the remaining 10% was made up of beech, used for the oars. The conifers came from the Alpine areas, especially the Upper Belluno valley, Friuli and Trentino, while the oak forests were found in the plains. The need for the curved pieces necessary for the keel of the galley assigned to the grazed oak forests, characterized by a low density, a major role. Faced with the needs of its military fleets, Venice made a huge effort to census, preserve and manage the oak forests of its domains. Many forests were thus identified, confined and placed under the special protection of the Senate. Venice did also an estimate of all forest resources in its domains to establish their periodic control, combining it with a management aimed at increasing production. The first land register was made in 1489 and it was the first of about 40 land registers made by Venice until 1796 in which the boundaries, exposure, perimeter, number and health conditions of the oaks was reported. Also the Grand Duke of Tuscany made a forest inventory in 1750 for the needs of the military navy. The south of Italy was equally intensely exploited for shipbuilding. Interesting in this regard is the extensive use of oak that is made at the arsenal of Naples in the second half of the eighteenth century, in which oak constitutes 82% of the total. This signals an abundance of oaks in the south compared to the centre-north where oak forests suitable for the navy seem to be scarce and competing with the need to produce acorns for the grazing animals.

The Woods for Shipbuilding

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发表日期：

2025年

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Mauro Agnoletti

摘要

The needs of civil and military shipbuilding have profoundly influenced Italian forests over a long historical period. As with other cases, the management of forests for shipbuilding intertwined with other economic functions of the forest, in some cases complementary, such as grazing in the forest, in other cases competitive, such as the production of charcoal or poles. There is no doubt, however, that the demand for timber for naval fleets historically represents one of the most important activities that has influenced the forest landscape from north to south of Italy. As for military needs, a growing influence on forests is observed with the progressive assertion of Rome’s dominance over the Mediterranean Sea. Around the second century, the fleet had steadily reached 280 ships, between triremes and quinqueremes. Venice represents the most important case for shipbuilding and the management of the forests in medieval times. In addition to the oak (50%) used for the keel and outside planking, 40% of the necessary timber was made up of conifers, especially Norway spruce (Picea excelsa) and larch (Larix decidua Mill.), while the remaining 10% was made up of beech, used for the oars. The conifers came from the Alpine areas, especially the Upper Belluno valley, Friuli and Trentino, while the oak forests were found in the plains. The need for the curved pieces necessary for the keel of the galley assigned to the grazed oak forests, characterized by a low density, a major role. Faced with the needs of its military fleets, Venice made a huge effort to census, preserve and manage the oak forests of its domains. Many forests were thus identified, confined and placed under the special protection of the Senate. Venice did also an estimate of all forest resources in its domains to establish their periodic control, combining it with a management aimed at increasing production. The first land register was made in 1489 and it was the first of about 40 land registers made by Venice until 1796 in which the boundaries, exposure, perimeter, number and health conditions of the oaks was reported. Also the Grand Duke of Tuscany made a forest inventory in 1750 for the needs of the military navy. The south of Italy was equally intensely exploited for shipbuilding. Interesting in this regard is the extensive use of oak that is made at the arsenal of Naples in the second half of the eighteenth century, in which oak constitutes 82% of the total. This signals an abundance of oaks in the south compared to the centre-north where oak forests suitable for the navy seem to be scarce and competing with the need to produce acorns for the grazing animals.