Cliksource

The term international shipping is currently used to describe any type of international transfer of goods regardless of the vessel used in the process. It was originally called international shipping because it was done exclusively by ship. The profession is nearly four thousand years old and is one of the most lucrative businesses in the world.

Two thousand years before the birth of Christ and the rise of the Roman Empire, ancient civilizations in Egypt and Sumeria used galleys to transfer grain and manufactured goods to other countries. The Egyptians were the first great naval power and dominated that region of the world both militarily and with trade power from international shipping. They conquered neighboring lands and spread their ideas and civilization to the rest of the known world.

As the region around the Mediterranean grew up and man ascended from barbarism a new land developed and began to overcome the armies and ships of the Egyptians with naval commerce of their own. Greek city-states like Sparta and Athens became the harbingers of civilization and took over international shipping in the Middle East and Africa. One of their close cousins, a small land known as Macedonia, produced a prince who became king and then conquered the world. Alexander created opportunities for international shipping that had never existed before. Massive merchant vessels carried the plunder of the Persian Empire back to the shores of Greece and brought food and weapons to the armies occupying Africa, Southern Europe and Asia. The known world was unified under one government and learned to understand the language of international commerce.

Next in line for the throne was the Roman Empire. The Caesars surpassed Alexander in territory occupied and lands conquered in the name of civilization and Roman galleys took on the task of international shipping from the shores of Italy to the mountains of Asia and beyond. The city founded by Etruscan tribes reached out and put its stamp on humanity for hundreds of years until it reached a land called Britannia, where the mighty surge finally broke against an impenetrable wall.

The Britons would go on to build their own Empire and, like those who came before them, dominated international shipping with a mighty fleet of sailing ships that sailed across every sea and ocean in the world. The Union Jack flew over six continents and the red-coated soldiers of the Queens and Kings of Great Britain stood guard over precious cargoes that were transported back to the tiny island that once defied the power that was Rome.

Like a mighty oak, the British Empire was too great to be defeated by any outside foe and was eventually brought down from within. Thirteen colonies in a new land defied the King and declared their independence to the world. Within a century the fledgling United States became the powerful force in international shipping and has been ever since. Like Egypt, Macedonia, Rome and England they have taken their place as the leader of commerce in a world that thrives on trade.

Nir Dotan is a writer and promoter of
International Shipping services,
and
Shipping Local as
well as International Moving.