Mare e lunga durata. Manifesto per una storia marittima

Abstract

This article proposes a renewed approach to maritime history grounded in the longue durée. It traces how the field moved beyond its early focus on naval events and technical expertise, especially through Fernand Braudel’s idea of the sea as a historical structure shaped by slow rhythms, connections, and environments. Later scholars expanded this perspective by emphasizing mobility, micro-ecologies, global exchanges, and the social and cultural dimensions of maritime life. The essay also points to the emergence of a comparative and international community of research, as well as the increasing relevance of maritimité, which highlights the ways societies experience and interpret the sea. Together, these elements outline a broader and more integrated vision of maritime history as a key tool for understanding economic, social, and global transformations.