Investigation/Questions about the Beden

So in a bit of perusal I came across this ship.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beden

It was used by Somalian traders and I was wondering that since they were used in East Africa for trade, what feasibility they have as an ocean-going craft? Plus, could they operate in the Mediterranean or Atlantic spheres? They seem to be a good example of an early ocean-going ship.

Anyone here have any insights that go further than Google and a wiki page?
 
I don't think bedens ships were a main part of transoceanic trade between Somalia and India, and while they were certainly used up to Zanzibar in the XIXth century, it was in smaller numbers than ships, especially the daws that were much more common for maritime trade, at least between the XVIth and XIXth centuries.
 
I don't think bedens ships were a main part of transoceanic trade between Somalia and India, and while they were certainly used up to Zanzibar in the XIXth century, it was in smaller numbers than ships, especially the daws that were much more common for maritime trade, at least between the XVIth and XIXth centuries.

I double-took for a second, I've never seen Dhow written as Daw before! I wonder how useful they would be in the Atlantic. I can't recall them ever being used (to my knowledge), but I know they were used in the Med.
 
Daws/Dhows (apparently, that's their name in english. It's probably better of a transliteration than the french "boutre") were essentialy coastal ships, so I'm not really optimistic on their chances in Atlantic : at the very least, all the sail and cordage would have to be re-rigged as soon it goes in oceanic waters.
As for eastern Mediterranean sea, I think feluccas were definitely more present than daws (I don't remember about their presence there, but the best of my knowledge on medieval ships is much more centered on western Mediterranean sea, admittedly).
 
I've seen it written or typed out both ways. Daw, IIRC, is closer to Arabic. Like LSCatalina, I am not sure that the beden would have much luck in the deep ocean, whether it be the Indian or the Atlantic. There are different types of daw and one type that I have seen that was used in the deep ocean was the baghlah. The only issue with it was that it was unwieldy due to its size and would be replaced by the boom/bhum.
 
Daws/Dhows (apparently, that's their name in english. It's probably better of a transliteration than the french "boutre") were essentialy coastal ships, so I'm not really optimistic on their chances in Atlantic : at the very least, all the sail and cordage would have to be re-rigged as soon it goes in oceanic waters.
As for eastern Mediterranean sea, I think feluccas were definitely more present than daws (I don't remember about their presence there, but the best of my knowledge on medieval ships is much more centered on western Mediterranean sea, admittedly).

My East Med shipping knowledge is a little lackluster (as is apparently my knowledge of Indian Ocean shipping, a bit embarassing as I grew up around there. I called all Arabian-style boats Dhows. *embarassed*)

I've seen it written or typed out both ways. Daw, IIRC, is closer to Arabic. Like LSCatalina, I am not sure that the beden would have much luck in the deep ocean, whether it be the Indian or the Atlantic. There are different types of daw and one type that I have seen that was used in the deep ocean was the baghlah. The only issue with it was that it was unwieldy due to its size and would be replaced by the boom/bhum.

Hmm, do you happen to know how early Baghlahs were used? The only number I can find is 13th Century - I was somewhat curious about examples in the 500-600 AD period (Because I'm shamelessly looking at a Roman Somalia timeline, sue me.) The Sambuk/Sunbuk seems to be an early design, but some claim it is based on the Portugese Caravel (which suggests a contradiction).
 
Heh, the datation about ships models is quite complex : most of daws variations or sub-categories were hugely intermixed, with a ship borrowing some elements of another.
I think a safe bet would be to take a look at UNESCO History of Africa to check : I'll take a look on it.
 
Okay, it doesn't say much about boats in the regions, but it implies that ships like beden, as in coastal vessels, were certainly used by Arab who were more intermediaries in the Ocean Indian trade than main partners. Basically, their presence is noteworthy for the Horn but either Persian, Indian or Hellenistic traders had more importance (meaning that you should rather see along these kind of trade ships than Arab ones), while African were either using monoxyles or more simple (if efficient) boats.
 
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