"From the 13th century through the 19th century, the waterways of the world provided the major means of transportation for exploration, trade, the military, and even criminals. Find out what life was like for those who decided to sail the high seas, as well as for those who did not choose to be on board, like slaves en route to the auction block and wives brought to sea by their husbands. What were their living quarters like? What did they eat? How did they pass their long days at sea? These and other questions are answered in animated prose that brings into sharp focus the lives of ordinary people who oftentimes engaged in extraordinary activities."--BOOK JACKET.