The ocean has profoundly shaped human existence as a space of sustenance, industry, and exchange as well as a source of knowledge, myth, and imagination. The complex interactions between humans and the ocean, though ancient, have tightened over time and multiplied with globalization. The importance of these interactions today—in terms of climate, health, economy, food supply, recreation, coastal habitation, and many other areas—prompts new and urgent attention to understanding our past relationships with the ocean.
 
Our series will publish works that put the ocean at the center of our narratives about the past. When we consider the ocean in its depths and move beyond the narrow slices of its coasts, we gain new dimensions to our histories, both in the modern era and through deep time. To build fuller accounts of the ocean, our series adopts a broad definition of historical writing. Contributions to this series may emerge from a variety of disciplines and perspectives, such as history of science or technology, historical geography, anthropology, environmental history, art history, literary history, and nature writing. We especially encourage books or collections that, while grounded in rigorous scholarship, can speak to broader academic, student, and general audiences.