Credited to Portugal. Britannica and the Mariners' Museum credit the Portuguese with developing the caravel. Other accounts describe it as growing out of fishing craft used in Galicia and Atlantic Andalusia as well as Portugal.
How it began
One of the earliest known descriptions of a caravel comes from a 13th century Portuguese manuscript, which describes caravelas as fishing vessels. In the 15th century Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal funded expeditions in search of new sea routes and needed better ships to explore the Atlantic and the African coast. Britannica states that the caravel was apparently developed by the Portuguese for exploring the coast of Africa. Most of the ships on those voyages were caravels.
Before it existed
The first caravels were small fishing and trading boats. Older northern ships were built clinker style, with overlapping planks. Square sails served well for running before the wind in open water but were less useful near shore, where winds shift. Explorers needed a vessel that could work along an unknown coast and still make its way home against the wind.
How it works
A typical caravel was about 75 feet (23 meters) long, with two or three masts. Early caravels were lateen rigged, which means each mast carried a triangular sail on a long yard. This rig gave the ship its chief strength, the ability to sail to windward. The hull was rounded and built carvel style, with planks laid edge to edge. Later versions, called caravela redonda, added square sails for running before the wind on the open ocean.
How it spread
The Portuguese used caravels on the voyages that led around Africa and opened trade into the Indian Ocean. Spain adopted the type as well. In 1492 two of the three ships of Christopher Columbus, the Niña and the Pinta, were caravels. The ships were also used to carry cargo.
What lasted
Caravels made possible the early Atlantic voyages that opened new sea routes. They remained in use for several centuries. Around the 17th century they began to be replaced by larger ships that could carry more cargo. The mixed rig of later caravels suited trade, because square sails served on open water and lateen sails near the shore.
