Quote by R. M. [Robert Michael] Ballantyn
But although we have noticed the ark as being the first ship, we cannot with propriety place it in the front of the history of navigation. After the flood the ark seems to have been soon forgotten, or at least imperfectly remembered, and men reverted to their little canoes and clumsy boats, which sufficed for all their limited wants. It was not until about a thousand years later in the world
Summary
of ancient civilizations and empires, such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Phoenicia, that we see the emergence of more advanced ships and maritime technology. The quote suggests that while the ark is considered the first ship due to its prominence in biblical narratives, it did not play a significant role in the development of navigation. Instead, the focus is shifted to other early civilizations that made significant strides in maritime exploration and engineering, thereby establishing a more significant impact on the history of navigation.