Ay up sea cat
If you looking for connections and food for thought, I'd check Barry Cunliffes most excellent books, Facing the Oceans, and the superb follow-up Europe between the Oceans 9000Bc - 1000AD.
Sound, Fitzcoraldo. I'm getting some excellent suggestions here, which I do appreciate. I've ordered the titles you suggest from the library. Have a good weekend, and that goes for everyone else as well.