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Naval Construction
Navigational practice resulted in improved ship building techniques.
Years: 1415 — 1543
The long sea crossings of the Discoveries were only possible thanks to the developments in ship building techniques, which in turn were developed through observations resulting from navigational practice.
In the 15th century, the caravelle, with its storm jib sails, was the typical vessel of the era. From the time of Vasco da Gama on, the predominant vessel was the carrack, whose most-important sails were made from square-rigged cloth.
The carrack employed on the route to India allowed for the transportation of more tonnage of goods. This had become possible due to increased knowledge of those routes offering the greatest possibility of advantageous winds for propulsion. Fernando Oliveira was the first author to deal systematically with shipbuilding.
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