Caravel

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Illustration of a Portuguese caravel with triangular lateen sails, a high sterncastle, bow tower, and sternpost rudder, highlighting features that made it fast and maneuverable for exploration.

Theodor de Bry: Americae Tertia Pars

Caravel: Media

ship

Images

Caravel

Caravel

A Portuguese caravel sailing to Cadiz, Spain, 2016.

© Horacio Villalobos/Getty Images

Illustration of a Portuguese caravel with triangular lateen sails, a high sterncastle, bow tower, and sternpost rudder, highlighting features that made it fast and maneuverable for exploration.

Anatomy of a caravel: Key features of the Portuguese exploration ship

An annotated diagram of a Portuguese caravel highlighting key maritime innovations—such...

© Culture Club/Bridgeman—Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Theodor de Bry: Americae Tertia Pars

Theodor de Bry: Americae Tertia Pars

Portuguese caravels departing Lisbon for Brazil, the West Indies, and America; from...

Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

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