Viking Cruises

viking.com | 11 e Romans completely controlled the Mediterranean ...for 400 years.ey even changed its name to Mare Nostrum,'Our Sea'. the coastlines of the Mediterranean. Later, when Augustus founded the Roman Empire, the Romans completely controlled the Mediterranean and virtually all its coastal regions from Gibraltar to the Levant for 400 years. They even changed its name to Mare Nostrum, 'Our Sea'. TRANSPORTATION AND TRADE 'The inland sea' of early civilisations, trade and communication flourished and declined with the fortunes of the people along its shores. After the Middle Ages, Constantinople (Istanbul), Barcelona and the Italian states assumed the role of trade intermediaries between Asia and northwestern Europe. In the 15th century, however, the rise of the Ottoman Turks was followed by a rule of oppression, and piracy made it dangerous to sail the sea. The fate of those Mediterranean trading posts was sealed when the route around the Cape of Good Hope in South THE SEA THAT 'BREATHES' A continuous inflow of surface water from the Atlantic Ocean flows eastward along the north coast of Africa, and this constant current forms the circulation of water and air in the region. It is most powerful in summer, when evaporation in the Mediterranean is at its highest, making the surface water saltier. The sea has been metaphorically described as 'breathing' – inhaling surface water from the Atlantic and exhaling deep water in a counter current below. MARINE RICHES Fishing has always been an important industry in the Mediterranean, and a lifeline to people who live along its shores. Among the rich diversity of marine life are the bottom-living fish like flounder, sole and turbot. Sardines and anchovies also feature on many menus, as do squid, octopus, bluefin tuna and red mullet. Eating well is part of everyday life in the region, and one of its great pleasures, with each country boasting its own cuisine. As well as fishing, sea salt—produced by evaporation in coastal pans—has been a part of this sea for millennia. Africa was discovered, offering a safer and easier journey. For over 250 years, the Mediterranean Sea remained a secondary route in world ocean trade and traffic. Fortunes changed again in 1869 with the opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt, a man-made waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea. No longer having to circumnavigate the African continent, the newly built steam ships were put to use, meaning the waters of the Mediterranean were once again amongst the busiest in the world. Boasting idyllic coastlines, cosmopolitan playgrounds and ancient ruins, what makes the Mediterranean so culturally rich, beautifully scenic and diverse is what makes it irresistible. Visit once and you will be hooked. D E S T I N AT I O N S P OT L I G H T Clockwise, from left: Mediterranean coastline, Amalfi Coast, Italy; grilled octopus; fisherman's boat, Greece

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