Caravel

The caravel was a two-to viermastiger sailing ship type of the 14th to 16th centuries from 100 to 180 tons displacement with a shallow draft, high tail and usually lateen rigging Spain and Portugal, which was characterized by speed and very good qualities on the wind. She played a crucial role in the discovery, research and trading voyages along the coast of West Africa and the Americas.

Origin of the term caravel

The Online Etymology Dictionary derives the origin of the concept of caravelle (French), which in turn refers to the Portuguese caravela. Here then a line to the late Latin carabus (small, strung with leather, braided boot ) or the Greek karabos is pulled.

In another major development line is very often referred to in the literature on the influence of the Arabs. From the Arab qarib or carib Portuguese cáravo is derived. All names for a small fishing or coastal boat with lateen sails.

In addition to these in the literature mostly encountered positions other etymological or " popular etymological ' views are represented.

In Portuguese, the term is associated with caravela carvalho (oak ) as a building material of the caravels in connection eg. Another possible line of development refers to the Portuguese term " Caravagg ( o) à vela " (such as: small boat under sail / sailboat).

In German caravel is often set with the name Carvel (or Karweel ) in relationship, as the caravels possessed in contrast to the Nordic type ( clinker planking ) over a smooth or kraweele hull plating.

Backgrounds and conditions for the development of the caravel

Under the patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese arrived with the surmounting of the Cape Bojador in 1434 in waters of the Atlantic, the wind and current conditions is no easy way back from the wind allowed more.

Significant technical inventions such as the compass, astrolabe and cross-staff or very accurate charts have been used. However, since the distances from home ports were getting bigger, the Portuguese increasingly required ships that travel long distances quickly and, if necessary, also were able to travel without a residence. This required not only the opportunity to sail on the high wind, but also the ability to carry sufficient supplies and spare parts for a longer trip. It ships were needed that allowed even without the technical possibilities of a shipyard, an overhaul of the hull and Others repairs yourself in awkward places. Furthermore, these ships had to continue the Portuguese discoveries to be able to secure the exploration (also irregular ) flow and wind conditions in the Atlantic as well as provide the ability to navigate and shallow coastal waters and river basins.

Building on the experience of the Portuguese sailors when driving on the Atlantic increasingly developed since the 40s of the 15th century, the caravel to such a vessel.

Evolution of the caravel

The development of the caravel as a ship type is fed from two sources.

On the one that is at least since the 10th century by the Moors occupied small balancelle and coastal boat with lateen sails. It was on the North African Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts to find as well as on the coasts of the Muslim Algarve. Referred to as qarib ship served not only as a fishing boat and coastal sailors, but also as a light warship. A possible relationship of qarib with the Arab dhow is probable, but not clearly documented.

Secondly, on the Atlantic coasts of the Iberian peninsula Latin heritage sailed by Christian sailors coastal and fishing boats were used and further developed. In Internet studies published by George P. Black, according to the term was first used caravel in 1226 - as in an official document on the integration of a Portuguese caravela was reported in an English fleet, which returned to Gascony. The term caravela is also found in 1255 in a Portuguese by the King Alfonso III. adopted foral (about: blank check ) for the Rio Douro is on the opposite side of the river from Porto city of Vila Nova de Gaia. In both cases, it is the above used on the Atlantic coast coastal freighters and fishing boats with lateen sails.

As a precursor also in the Algarve and the Atlantic coast as Barca pescareza (30-50 t) developed fishing boat can be seen that already required ( depending on size) 10-20 -man crew of Latin heritage sails and single-masted still without a cover. Similar vessels were used until the 30s of the 15th century into the voyages of discovery.

Generalizing, it can be stated that the caravela developed on the Iberian Peninsula dates back to the ship types that have been used for centuries in the fishery and in the river and coastal shipping as well as later in the deep sea shipping.

It is difficult to define a single basic type of the caravels of the 15th century. In most cases, a Latin heritage segelter Two master with stern castle is described in the literature, which had a continuous deck, at relatively shallow draft a carrying capacity of 40-60 toneladas ( in Portugal the 15th and 16th century, about 32 to 47.5 t) had and up to 20 man crew needed. These ships had a length of about 20-25 m (with a length -to-width ratio of about 3 to 4: 1) and could also be moved with belt with no wind. They were planked carvel, ie with adjacent planks - in contrast to the overlapping planks in clinker construction. The rudder was amidships. In the last quarter of the 15th century caravels were equipped with light artillery. She was very good to be able to sail close to the wind, but a poor sailor at aft winds.

This type of ship was the standard ship of the Portuguese and Spanish voyages of discovery, with it, the sea route was southward explored the African west coast, the flow and wind conditions explored in the South Atlantic, circumnavigated the Cape of Good Hope and realizes the Atlantic crossing. The Portuguese chronicler Gomes Eanes de Zurara occupied in Chapter XI of his Crónica do Descobrimento e conquista da Guiné for the first time for the year 1440 the use of caravels to the Portuguese explorers journeys.

At the end of the 15th century, the line of development of the caravel split on again. On the one hand, we developed the caravel with lateen sails that caravela latina, on. In addition to two masters and three-master with a capacity of up to 80 toneladas (approx. 63,5 t) and about 30-35 m in length were built, on which up to 60 man crew drove. These relatively small, but very fast and agile ships served in the navies of the Iberian countries until the second half of the 18th century, mainly as a news and notification ships, reconnaissance and outpost ships and cargo sailing ship as a quick and easy transport ships.

On the other side was the caravela redonda or Quersegelkaravelle. Built as three- and even four-master led only to jib or jib and main mast square sails, on the other masts continue lateen sail. Redonda is round and is explained with the appearance of the ship in billowing square sails. End of the 16th century Quersegelkaravellen achieved a capacity of up to 200 toneladas (about 158.5 t) were larger and more robust than the traditional caravels built, well equipped with artillery and reached a considerable firepower. Some of these ships already had two decks and aft castles with over 2 ½ decks. The caravela redonda was more oriented to the Nao as at the Lateinerkaravelle. The logical continuation of this path in the shipbuilding industry with a focus on payload and combat strength then led to the galleon.

The Quersegelkaravelle was used until the 18th century, as an armed transport and warship. The Portuguese translated it as escort to the Brazil and India route and to protect maritime traffic with the Atlantic islands, it was used to monitor the Straits of Gibraltar, but also for coastal protection and the fight against pirates. Caravelas redondas belonged to the Portuguese India Squadron and took 1511 Afonso de Albuquerque in the conquest of Malacca in part. Due to its properties as a battle ship the Quersegelkaravelle was also referred to as caravela armada.

Known caravels

At the first circumnavigation of the southern tip of Africa under Bartolomeu Dias 1487/88 the Lateinersegelkaravellen São Cristóvão ( flagship ) and São Pantaleão were involved.

Generally known are the caravels of the first voyage to America by Christopher Columbus, Niña and Pinta.

A found off the coast of Panama wreck of a caravel provides an opportunity to obtain accurate information about this type of ship. In the wreck, it is likely to be the wreck of the Vizcaína that had to be abandoned by Columbus on his fourth voyage due to worm self-indulgence.