Caravel, a light sailing ship of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries in Europe, much-used by the Spanish and Portuguese for long voyages. Apparently developed by the Portuguese for exploring the coast of Africa, the caravel’s chief excellence lay in its capacity for sailing to windward.
Design. The caravel sailing vessel was developed from a type of Portuguese fishing boat in the mid-15th century as Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal (aka Infante Dom Henrique, 1394-1460) looked to explore the world and gain access to distant trade networks.
What country has developed the caravel?
The caravel was developed in about 1450, based on existing fishing boats under the sponsorship of Henry the Navigator of Portugal , and soon became the preferred vessel for Portuguese explorers like Diogo Cão, Bartolomeu Dias or Gaspar and Miguel Corte-Real, and by Christopher Columbus.
Which European explorer invented the caravel ship?
Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal created the Caravel for long distance trade. It boasted two or three masts that had interchangeable sails. Square sails were used for open water while lateen sails were used for shoreline sailing. The also had a rounded bottom, making them faster than other vessels of their time.
Where in Africa was the caravel invented?
The caravel (or carvel) is a light sailing ship that the Portugese developed in the late 1400’s in order to explore the African coast . The name caravel is derived from the shipbuilding term carvel, which refers to the butting planks so that they form a smooth surface on the hull.
Who first created caravels?
Caravel, a light sailing ship of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries in Europe, much-used by the Spanish and Portuguese for long voyages. Apparently developed by the Portuguese for exploring the coast of Africa, the caravel’s chief excellence lay in its capacity for sailing to windward.
How did caravel improve travel?
For much of its life, the Caravel featured triangular “lateen” sails that, combined with its eminent maneuverability, allowed it to sail into the wind using a zigzagging technique known as “beating to windward .” The Spanish and Portuguese soon recognized the potential of this ship, and transformed it from a simple ...
What kind of school did Prince Henry create?
In 1419, Prince Henry started the first school of navigation at Sagres, Portugal . The goal of the school was to train people in navigation, map-making and science to prepare them to sail around the west coast of Africa.
What made the caravel unique?
The caravel of the 15th and 16th centuries was a ship with a distinctive shape and admirable qualities . A gently sloping bow and single stern castle were prominent features of this vessel, and it carried a mainmast and a mizzen mast that were generally lateen-rigged.
The last two important mariners sent out by Henry were the Venetian explorer Alvise Ca’ da Mosto and the Portuguese Diogo Gomes , who between them discovered several of the Cape Verde Islands. Afonso V had small interest in discovery but great zeal for Crusading and knight-errantry.
Did pirates use caravels?
A caravel was used as a trading vessel and normally had two masts but oocasionally had three. It was lightly armed and weighed about 75 to 80 tons. They were not a popular choice of pirates but were sometimes used for short voyages or surprise attacks.
How did European exploration change the world?
The Age of Exploration had a significant impact on geography. By traveling to different regions around the globe, explorers were able to learn more about areas such as Africa and the Americas and bring that knowledge back to Europe . ... These explorations also introduced a whole new world of flora and fauna to Europeans.
Who was the first European to discover a sea route to Asia?
In 1488, Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias (c. 1450-1500) became the first European mariner to round the southern tip of Africa, opening the way for a sea route from Europe to Asia.
Why is the caravel so important?
CARAVEL. The Iberian workhorse known as the caravel was one of the most important ships not only in Iberian history, but in the history of the world. The caravel was a vessel of paramount importance in the 15th and 16th centuries , when it was used to traverse the immense barrier to the New World.
What did the caravel lack?
Because of a shallow hull, the caravels were mostly used for a long voyages and the exploration of the African coast. Sometimes they were mounted with the guns and used as a warship. A big weakness was a lack of cargo capacity and the small living quarters .
How fast is a caravel?
Top speed for a caravel was about 8 knots ; the average was 4 knots for 90-100 miles in a day. In 1492 Colombus’s used 2 caravels, the Nina and the Pinta, and a larger carrack, the Santa Maria, as his flagship [More].
