The Titanic: The maritime tragedy that sank the unsinkable

By 50minutes

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the history of the Titanic in next to no time with this concise guide.

50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of the voyage of the Titanic.When the Titanic liner set sail from Southampton on 10 April 1912, the passengers on board had no idea of the terrible fate that awaited them four days later. Everything was in place for an unforgettable journey: the brand new ship was proclaimed the largest, fastest and most luxurious in the world. But, on the night of 14 April, the unthinkable happened when an iceberg loomed in the horizon. Within just a few hours, the magnificent vessel was headed towards the depths of the ocean.

In just 50 minutes you will:
   • Understand the historical and social context of the time and how this led to the building of the largest and most luxurious ship, the Titanic
   • Learn more about the people involved in the tragedy, including the captain, the architect and the ship owner
   • Analyse the development of the event, from the ship’s departure on 10 April to the moment it began its descent to the seabed at 2.20am on 14 April

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• Language: English
• Publisher: 50Minutes.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9782806276025

Book preview

The Titanic

Key information

When: On the night of 14-15 April 1912

Where: In the Northwest Atlantic

Context: The Belle Époque (the era of liner ships)

Main actors:

Edward John Smith, British sailor (1850-1912)

Thomas Andrews, British naval architect (1873-1912)

Joseph Bruce Ismay, British businessman (1862-1937)

Repercussions:

New legislation on maritime safety

The creation of the International Ice Patrol

The birth of a myth surrounding the Titanic

Gigantic, luxurious, beautiful, unsinkable; ever since its creation, the Titanic has been the subject of the most beautiful descriptions. For travelers of the early 20th century, there was no doubt about it: the ship, a masterpiece of its industry, was indeed the largest liner in the world. The jewel of the shipping company White Star Line, the Titanic was designed, through its luxuriousness and more advanced technology, to far outshine the ships of rival companies in the transatlantic crossing, which connected the Old Continent to New York.

On 10 April 1912, the ship began its maiden voyage, under the command of Edward John Smith, a veteran of the seas who had great confidence in the ship’s abilities. 2 200 passengers and crew members were onboard, including some of the biggest celebrities of the time. They all anticipated taking the journey of their dreams, unaware that the prestigious ship was doomed.

On 14 April 1912, sailing at an ever-increasing speed, the Titanic headed towards a zone of drifting ice. Although messages of caution continued to warn of the danger looming on the horizon, none of them were really taken into account. But, at 11:40pm, lookouts noticed that the ship was racing towards an iceberg. Despite the quick response of the crew, the starboard side of the Titanic struck the ice. The damage was heavy and there were only 1 178