jan 1, 1400 - Caravel Ship was invented

Description:

In the 15th century, a ship called the Caravel was created. It sets high in the water which means that it can sail into the shallower waters without bumping into sand beds. This ship was meant to be an exploration ship and was designed by the Portuguese. However, the sail for the ship was designed by the Arabs which the Portuguese borrowed.

The Arabs' sails were used to navigate the Red Sea. Unlike other sails, these sails can be turned in the direction of the wind in order to take advantage of its propulsion.

Using this sail, the tacking maneuver can be done where the sail would be positioned where the wind was going in order to gain speed. The sail can then be moved back towards the direction where the captain wanted to sail which results in a faster propulsion in that direction. This would create a zig-zag sailing route and would lessen the sailing time.

In general, the Caravel Ship was used by the Portuguese in order to trace/explore the borders of Africa.

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