Changes

The '''Caravel''' was the “work-horse” of the [[Spanish]] and [[Portuguese]] during the [[Age of Exploration]]; a vessel that would be adapted according to the varying needs and challenges of the era.

The '''Caravel''' was the “work-horse” of the [[Spanish]] and [[Portuguese]] during the [[Age of Exploration]]; a vessel that would be adapted according to the varying needs and challenges of the era.

In the early 15th century a caravel was termed as a Portuguese two-masted [[lateen]] rigged [[carvel]]-built vessel with '''forecastle''' and deckhouse, designed for trade in the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Atlantic]] coast. When [[Henry the Navigator]] began his search for a sea route to [[India]] in the 1420s one of his priorities was the development of a suitable vessel. The caravela Latina was the first design change, with a slimmer hull and three masts, though still all lateen rigged. This was followed by the caravella redonda, a three masted vessel, '''square-rigged''' on the fore- and mainmast, however the [[mizzen]] retained the [[lateen]] sail as an aid to maneuverability. By the 16th century four-masted versions had appeared. A watercolor by the sixteenth century Spaniard, Monleon, shows two four-masted caravels square rigged on only the foremast. During the fifteenth century, the use of topsails was developed.

In the early 15th century a caravel was termed as a Portuguese two-masted [[lateen]] rigged [[carvel]]-built vessel with '''forecastle''' and deckhouse, designed for trade in the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Atlantic]] coast. When [[Henry the Navigator]] began his search for a sea route to [[India]] in the 1420s one of his priorities was the development of a suitable vessel. The caravela latina was the first design change, with a slimmer hull and three masts, though still all lateen rigged. This was followed by the caravella redonda, a three masted vessel, '''square-rigged''' on the fore- and mainmast, however the '''mizzen''' retained the [[lateen]] sail as an aid to manoeuvrability. By the 16th century four-masted versions had appeared. A watercolor by the sixteenth century Spaniard, Monleon, shows two four-masted caravels square-rigged on only the foremast. During the fifteenth century, the use of topsails was developed.

Their size varied. [[Bartholomew Diaz]] sailed with two small caravels designed for poking about amongst the shoals and reefs of an unknown coast. [[Vasco da Gama]], on the advice of Diaz, was supplied with much larger and heavily armed caravels. [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]]’ ''Niña'' and ''Pinta'' were small caravels. (''[[Santa Maria]]'' was a “''[[Nao]]''”, a much larger and older design, developed from the craft that had carried the Crusaders two centuries and more before.) [[Magellan]]’s fleet included large four-masted caravels.  

Their size varied. [[Bartholomew Diaz]] sailed with two small caravels designed for poking about amongst the shoals and reefs of an unknown coast. [[Vasco da Gama]], on the advice of Diaz, was supplied with much larger and heavily armed caravels. [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]]’ ''Niña'' and ''Pinta'' were small caravels. (''[[Santa Maria]]'' was a “''[[Nao]]''”, a much larger and older design, developed from the craft that had carried the Crusaders two centuries and more before.) [[Magellan]]’s fleet included large four-masted caravels.  

Glossary

Glossary

*Forecastle, these days, is the space below the forward deck. It was, in the Middle Ages, indeed up to the development of the galleon, a raised portion of a ship from which archers and (later) musketeers could fire down on the enemy ship. It is pronounced “fo’c’sle".  

*Forecastle, these days, is the space below the forward deck. It was, in the Middle Ages, indeed up to the development of the galleon, a raised portion of a ship from which archers and (later) musketeers could fire down on the enemy ship. It is pronounced “fo’c’sle".  

*Square-rigged refers to the set of the sails on what most people would consider the classic large sailing ship – the galleon or the clipper for example, or any large warship of the age of sail. The sails are set across the bow to stern line of the vessel and are four-sided and attached to yards that can be angled according wind direction.  

*Square-rigged refers to the set of the sails on what most people would consider the classic large sailing ship – the galleon or the clipper for example, or any large warship of the age of sail. The sails are set across the bow to stern line of the vessel and are four-sided and attached to yards that can be angled according wind direction.  

*Strakes refer to the longitudinal planks of a wooden vessel that, attached to the ribs from the keel to the top of the sides, make up the hull. A craft can be referred to as being carvel- or clinker-built, depending on the way the strakes are put together.  

*Strakes refer to the longitudinal planks of a wooden vessel that, attached to the ribs from the keel to the top of the sides, make up the hull. A craft can be referred to as being carvel- or clinker-built, depending on the way the strakes are put together.  

==Sources==

==Sources==

Dictionary of [[Ship]] Types, (Conway Maritime Press)  

"Dictionary of [[Ship]] Types", (Conway Maritime Press)  

J. R. Parry, The Age of Exploration (Uni of California Press)

J. R. Parry, "The Age of Exploration", (Uni of California Press)

 

[[Category:Age of Exploration]]

[[Category:Age of Exploration]]

[[Category:Sailing ship types]]

[[Category:Sailing ship types]]