Caravels

Caravels were small, highly maneuverable sailing ships developed in the 15th century, particularly by the Portuguese for exploration and trade. They were characterized by their lateen sails (triangular sails) which allowed them to sail close to the wind, giving them a significant advantage over earlier square-rigged vessels. Their shallow draft allowed them to navigate coastal waters and rivers. The caravel's design was instrumental in the Age of Exploration, facilitating voyages to Africa, the Americas, and Asia, changing the course of global history through trade, colonization, and the exchange of goods and ideas. caravels were instrumental in facilitating trade with countries far away from their country of origin.

Caravels meaning with examples

• Portuguese explorers like Vasco da Gama utilized caravels to navigate the treacherous waters around the Cape of Good Hope, opening a sea route to India and facilitating trade and exploration.
• The Santa Maria, one of Christopher Columbus' ships, was a carrack, but smaller caravels were used for scouting and navigating the shallow waters along the coastline of America.
• Driven by powerful winds, caravels were used to facilitate trade between the Europeans and the Indigenous population of the Americas, a practice that shaped global exchange.
• Their sturdy build allowed caravels to endure long voyages and varying weather conditions, enabling the development of global commerce and facilitating the growth of empires.
• Historians studying the Age of Exploration focus on the efficiency of caravels, a design element critical to the successes of Portuguese and Spanish voyages, expanding horizons.