The Caravel and the Impact of New Technologies on Transportation Systems

Posted on by

A Caravel

Transportation systems have evolved since ancient time. This continual transformation of the ways in which humans travel and transport goods is often closely tied to technological advances in the field of transportation. In many ways, the culture of a civilization is heavily influenced by the transportation technologies available to it. However, the relationship goes the other way as well. The transportation technologies present in a society are also often determined by the culture of that society.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, an iconic ship known as the Caravel largely dominated the sea-faring industries of Southwestern Europe. Although the exact origin of this ship is still debated, it had been used as an offshore fishing vessel by the peoples of the Iberian Peninsula since at least the 1200’s. The ship featured a strong Moorish influence, and its design, at least in part, may have been passed from the Islamic body of knowledge to the Western Christian societies of Spain and Portugal. This is quite possible because, as one author points out (see links below), Medieval Islamic society contributed many advances to the fields of geography, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. These important theoretical discoveries would later contribute to the success of European seafaring by forming the foundation of cutting-edge navigational techniques and other technologies.

The Caravel was a relatively small ship, especially by modern standards. The bottom of the ship protruded below the surface of the water by only a small distance, making it an extremely maneuverable watercraft. For much of its life, the Caravel featured triangular “lateen” sails that, combined with its eminent maneuverability, allowed it to sail into the wind using a zigzagging technique known as “beating to windward.” The Spanish and Portuguese soon recognized the potential of this ship, and transformed it from a simple offshore fishing vessel to the backbone of the European Age of Exploration. With the addition of square sails (to provide increased power when sailing with the wind) and other minor changes, the Caravel soon became the ship of choice for many explorers. It has been suggested that two of Columbus’s ships, the Niña and the Pinta, were Caravels optimized for transatlantic exploration.

Clearly, the Caravel revolutionized European transportation. This technology made it possible for European explorers, fishermen, and merchants to “expand their horizons,” by providing the ability to travel further, faster. One could argue that it played a major role in the rapid colonization of the New World.

However, the inverse is also true. To a large extent, the success of the Caravel was due to navigational techniques brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors, combined with the European desire for political, economic, religious, and scientific expansion.

This dichotomy holds true for many transportation-related technologies. Railroads are built to service existing towns, but the route itself often determines the development of future towns. Military conflict has served as a catalyst for the development of many advances in aviation technology that have later spilled over into the public sector. It is clear that a society’s culture and its transportation technologies are very much linked. Engineers must keep this in mind when developing new technologies for transportation systems. When designing part of a transportation system, it is important both to take inspiration from society and to recognize the changes that that technology will have upon society.

 

———————————————————————————————————————

 

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/shiplab/01George/caravela/htmls/Caravel%20History.htm

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/shiplab/01George/index.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/c/caravel.shtml

 

 

12,670 thoughts on “The Caravel and the Impact of New Technologies on Transportation Systems”

  8. Dental crowns are prosthetics which are used to cover up misshapen teeth and restore the smile on your face. We’ve seen a number of villains smile wide with stainless steel crowns. If your teeth are weak or broken, these crowns are an excellent fix. They are also used to provide support in case you are getting a dental bridge.

    The most popular dental crowns are stainless steel crowns. There are different dental crowns that you can make use of, but you must be well informed before you pick one. So, we are here to tell you all about stainless steel crowns and why you should or should not choose them.
    https://www.acerocrowns.com/stainless-steel-crowns-adults

    Reply ↓

  11. This pair is not really Passengerssweet for Charyl Chappuis, the handsome Thai-Swiss star player, under the Port Authority FC, who recently spun “Lena” Helena Bush, sweetheart, cruises on the Chao Phraya River before dinner.

    Reply ↓

  12. This pair is not Star Trekreally sweet for Charyl Chappuis, the handsome Thai-Swiss star player, under the Port Authority FC, who recently spun “Lena” Helena Bush, sweetheart, cruises on the Chao Phraya River before dinner.

    Reply ↓

  16. بتاترانس عرضه کننده به روزترین لیست قیمت سیم و کابل برندهای برتر کشور با بالاترنی کیفیت و بهترین قیمت در لاله زار تهران

    Reply ↓

  22. The online casinos provide free benefit game position products that permit the gamblers to win real income bonus. You’ve to understand there are several casinos that offer this company on the internet. To know more about any of it you are able to browse the blogs and opinions compiled by the casino’s customers or seek advice from the casino’s on the web casinos that are associated with the slot device business. A great online casino should really be popular for giving the best casinos and bonus games. It’s also advisable to read the bonus news that’s presented for your requirements by the web casinos so that you will soon be conscious with any new upgrade in the benefit sport position machines.

    Reply ↓

  25. دریل یکی از ابزارهای معروف است که به‌صورت دستی یا اتوماتیک عرضه می‌گردد. کم کم با آمدن مدل‌های کوچک‌تر و سبک‌تر آن، مصارف خانگی فراوانی پیدا کرده است. دریل دو نوع صنعتی و خانگی دارد که با نصب ابزارک‌های کوچک، روی آن می‌توان کاربردهای گسترده‌تری از آن انتظارداشت. برای آشنایی بیش‌تر با انواع دریل و کاربردهای آن به ادامه‌ی مطلب توجه کنید.

    در زمان‌های گذشته، عمده مصرف دریل‌ها، ایجاد سوراخ و روزنه به وسیله انواع مته، بسته به نوع جنس سطح مورد نظر بوده است. امروزه با پیشرفت صنعت و پیشرفت ابزارها، دریل هم به این پیشرفت دست پیدا کرد که با نصب ابزارک‌های روی آن می‌توان به کاربردهایی همچون: بریدن، تکه کردن، سنباده کشیدن، بستن و باز کردن انواع پیچ، جلا دادن سطوح و… دست پیدا کرد.

    Reply ↓

  33. Steve Apparel is one of the best custom clothing manufacturers in the United States, They serve both small and large clothing line brands. They have experience in the apparel industry for the past few decades. There is a low minimum order quantity of 50 pieces per design. For apparel manufacturing, they have a wide range of options from fabric selections, fabric processing, dyeing, cutting and sewing, sampling, bulk production, cut and sew, private labeling, Screen printing, sublimation printing, embroidery to shipment.

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *