USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The caravel became the preferred vessel for Portuguese explorers like Diogo Cão, Bartolomeu Dias or Gaspar and Miguel Corte-Real, and by Christopher Columbus. They were agile and easier to navigate than the barca and barinel, with a tonnage of 50 to 160 tons and 1 to 3 masts, with lateen triangular sails.

Detailed explanation-2: -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.

Detailed explanation-3: -Definition. The caravel (caravela in Spanish and Portuguese), was a type of medium-sized ship which, with its low draught and lateen or triangular sails, made it ideal for exploration from the 15th century onwards.

Detailed explanation-4: -The original caravel of the 15th century was a type of fishing vessel with Lateen sails (triangular sails supported by a beam at the top), which made them extremely manoeuvrable. The design proved so successful that Henry the Navigator used it as the basis for his designs of ships for exploratory voyages.

Detailed explanation-5: -Answer and Explanation: The caravel was a hugely important development in navigation because its use of triangular sails allowed it to sail into the wind, rather than just adhering to the wind’s direction.