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

 

 

17,559 thoughts on “The Caravel and the Impact of New Technologies on Transportation Systems”

  3. Besides, producing the best edit paper and bespoke scholastic research papers for every academic stream, We guarantee you the best academic grades for each of your assignments. Our confidence lies in the profoundly qualified and highly experienced subject experts we have on our panel.

    Reply ↓

  5. en iyi müzikleri ve en eğlenceli zamanları geçirebileceğiniz kaliteli sohbet odalarından biri olan radyo sohbet sitelerimiz sizlere 7/24 hizmet vermeye devam etmektedir.

    Reply ↓

  6. en keyifli sohbetleri bulabileceğiniz canlı canlı insanlarla sohbet edebileceğiniz tek kaliteli sohbet sitelerinden biri olan sohbetkeyfim siteleri her yerden giriş yapabileceğiniz yeni ara yüzü ile sizlerle.

    Reply ↓

  10. قیمت لنت جلو و عقب ترمز ۴۰۵ والئو تکستار شرکتی ایران خودرو و پارس لنت و مدرن تندیس بسیار مناسب و کیفیت بسیار بالایی دارد.

    Reply ↓

  16. Your song blew me away, I absolutely loved it. I felt every word that you spoke and I have replayed it multiple times because I can’t get enough of it. Thank you. =”https://xn--rrible-pta.com/”>Rarible

    Reply ↓

  31. Können wir in der Schweiz ein eigenes Solarpanel haben?

    Die Installation von Solaranlagenselberbauenschweiz- ist eine Aufgabe, die von jedermann erledigt werden kann. Wenn Sie bereit sind, Zeit und Mühe zu investieren, können Sie Ihre Solarstromanlage bauen. Es ist auch erwähnenswert, dass viele DIY-Solarmodule nicht für den Anschluss an das Stromnetz gedacht sind. Wie aus der vorangegangenen Debatte hervorgeht, können wir unser Solarpanel in der Schweiz haben.

    Reply ↓

  34. تیم UX بهترین راه را برای چیدمان دکمه ها تعیین می کند در حالی که تیم های UI طرح های خود را با چیدمان جدید تطبیق می دهند. ارتباط و همکاری مداوم بین طراحان UI و UX کمک می کند تا اطمینان حاصل شود که رابط کاربری نهایی تا آنجا که می تواند خوب به نظر می رسد، در حالی که به طور موثر و هماهنگ عمل می کند.

    Reply ↓

  35. نرم افزار مدیریت دام یکی از بهترین و ایده آل‌ترین نرم‌افزارهای صنعتی سازی پرورش گوسفند است. با کمک نرم افزار پرورش گوسفند می‌توانید گامی بزرگ در هوشمندسازی واحد دامداری خود بردارید.

    Reply ↓

  38. To Tanzania Tours Services

    You don’t have to take long Tanzania tours with your kids. Safari-worthy animals, beautiful beaches, friendly people, vast game reserves like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the entrancing Zanzibar Archipelago are just a few of Tanzania’s highlights. This article is part of our Africa series. Many creatures that one would not normally be able to observe up close may be spotted in the Serengeti National Park.

    Reply ↓

  45. Isco was not closely involved with Real Madrid in the 2021-22 season, in which the team won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. He has yet to receive a new contract from Real Madrid, ending his nine-year term with the club. which has won up to 19 trophies

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.