Caravel Research Paper

Daniel Crowson

Mrs. Hann

English 5th

12 February 2018

Caravels

Caravels, once used for offshore fishing by the Europeans, changed the way people traveled overseas in the 15th century. The caravel is a three masted ocean vessel (“Caravel”). Columbus used two caravels, the Nina and the Pinta on his voyage to the New World (“Caravel”). It was also used by Portuguese sailors to sail along the West African Coast for the construction of new port cities (“Mele”). Due to these events, the caravel was also used for transatlantic travel during the time of exploration (“CARAVEL”). Although caravels served various purposes, ultimately they enabled Europeans to trade, travel, and explore further and across the Atlantic Ocean and to the East. In the 15th century Europeans traded quite often with China and other nations in the East, but it was very difficult to do so. European navigators then started searching for faster trade routes to Asia. The caravel was used by Portuguese navigator, Bartolomeu

For this purpose the caravel was specifically made and used by the Portuguese for transatlantic exploration, and for navigation around the southern tip of Africa (“CARAVEL”). It was often used by navigators from England, Spain, and Portugal (“Europe and the Impulse for Exploration”). At first, Columbus was rejected for his offer to King John Ⅱ of Portugal, but he didn’t give up so, “Columbus offered his services in leading such an exploratory voyage to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of what later became Spain,” (“The Spanish and Portuguese Conquest of the Americas”). In support of this voyage, the Spanish offered Columbus two caravels to be used his voyage to the New World in 1492 (“Caravel”). Without the support of the Spanish, Christopher would not have been able to use the Nina and the Pinta on his voyage to the New World along with the advantages of their speed and