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

 

 

19,945 thoughts on “The Caravel and the Impact of New Technologies on Transportation Systems”

  17. situs togel online24jam terpercaya

    SITUS JUDI ONLINE24JAM TERPERCAYA
    Selamat datang di Situs Agen Toto Play yang merupakan Situs Judi Online24jam terpercaya dan resmi yang pastinya sangat aman. Situs Agen Toto Play menyediakan berbagai permainan Judi online resmi dan mudah menag judi yang mungkin tidak asing untuk kalian dan dapat kalian mainkan dimana saja dengan waktu 24jam nonstop maka dari itu orang biasanya menyebut kami situs judi online24jam terpercaya. Sebagai Situs judi onlen resmi dan terpercaya kami menyediakan game judi online seperti game toto atau biasa disebut judi togel, judi slot online, judi casino, games judi tembak ikan dan game judi bola yang mungkin bisa dikatakan permainan yang sedang ramai dikalangan para penjudi saat ini. Banyak berbagai macam platform judi penghasil uang berbentuk permainan yang mungkin dikatakan sangat mudah dan aman. Hanya dengan 1 ID Anda bisa memainkan seluruh permainan judi 4d online yang ada di bandar judi indo AgenTotoPlay melalui browser kesayangan Anda

    Reply ↓

  18. The best stock management software will undoubtedly include extra features such as lowering overall Naturally, the specific inventory management meaning for your organization will differ depending on the products you sell and the distribution networks you use. However, as long as those basic ingredients are present, you’ll have a solid foundation to build on.

    Reply ↓

  20. Employers want some demonstrated expertise in potential new employees. As an entry-level applicant, you are at a disadvantage because of your limited professional experience. Our writers can help you capitalize on the experience you do have.

    Reply ↓

  24. When cleaning a tool, one of the most preferred option is to select a titanium solvent trap bundle. It’s a cleansing accessory made to preserve the fluids in your tool from damaging the setting while ensuring your tool is very doing and also fully functional.

    The products that are sold on kmwhisper are cleaning and safety devices and are NOT intended for any other use.

    Reply ↓

  27. Rtm in software testing,, a traceability matrix is used to trace and map the relationship between the states of various software test cases and associated test results. Using this technique, we are able to identify any regressions brought on by replacing a particular code injection with another. This has become an important technique because it identifies defects early in the development lifecycle so they can be fixed before they affect product release.

    Reply ↓

  30. The mouth is the beginning of the digestive system. The fact that it opens to the outside world and is in direct contact with food is a sufficient area for the formation of a suitable environment for the reproduction of microbes. If regular and correct oral and dental care is not performed, the tissues and teeth in the mouth may get sick and cause the onset of important health problems. In addition to dental health, poorly maintained teeth can also cause an unpleasant aesthetic appearance. It is clear that this will create some psychological and physiological reasons. Dental Tourism Turkey is carried out in the best way by our clinic in Antalya and its districts.

    Reference : https://magictouchdentalclinic.com/dental-tourism/

    Reply ↓

  31. Good information has been given and I have learned a lot and I will also share this information which will be useful to many people.

    Know about our blog through e Paper Natnez which will help many people

    Thanks for sharing useful information !!

    Reply ↓

    • Pipes are used to transport materials according to their structure. Whether these materials are water or energy carriers, of course their difference is important, but it does not change the nature of the work. As a result, there is not much difference and the importance of this steel section is that it is very important and widely used.

      Reply ↓

  41. We at Nibandh.org provide various types of essay in Hindi such as essay on diwali, essay on pollution, essay on discipline, essay on environment, essay on education, essay on unemployment, essay on friendship, essay on football etc.

    Reply ↓

  47. Audra Simpson is a Professor in the Anthropology Department of Columbia University. The University website is not only the ideal location to show off her qualifications, but visitors will expect to see these qualifications.

    The bio is written in the third person, which is actually less common nowadays than it once was because many people prefer the personal touch of the first person bio. A third person bio sounds more authoritative, allows the writer to relay information without sounding like they are bragging, and is more commonly used in professional situations like on university websites.

    Audra’s bio does a good job of getting across some quite complex language and topics in a short space. It shows off her credentials clearly, without necessarily bragging, and it not only shows what she specializes in but how she goes about her studies and professional work.

    Reply ↓

  48. Corey Wainwright is a content marketer, and we know that from her professional bio on the HubSpot website. Her bio is written in the third person but it retains character thanks to the very personal information that it opens with.

    The whole bio is less than 25 words and, as pointed out on the HubSpot blog itself, it makes Corey seem approachable while linking to her content. It almost feels like she’s giving away a secret about her personal life.

    Right above Corey’s picture are links to her main social media profiles which means that readers have the opportunity to click through to her profiles where they will be able to find out more, should they wish.

    This type of bio won’t work for everybody, in every instance, but in the right situation, it can be highly effective. It is likely to have led to some clicks through to Corey’s social media profiles, which was part of the point.

    Reply ↓

  50. High School Football Live on the NHsFootball.Com, how to watch high school football 2022 live stream every single match online free from anywhere.

    First we will talk about how ranking is done from history The rankings are based on the teams that participated in the game from 1996 to 2021, called the World Rankings.World ranking is called constant because there is no change (very limited)

    Let’s come to the seasonal ranking. Seasonal rankings are a list that is based on the results that each team has with their opponents in a season. It can be said that the seasonal ranking is temporary. The most detrimental effect for a team is if they lose to a team at the bottom of the list.

    Visit (NHS Football Hub.com) Here to see the Historical ranking and Seasonal Ranking.

    We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get what you want by presenting the latest news which is always stored in the MaxPreps Database System.In the meanwhile, mistakes will be made. If you have any misconceptions such as ( Missing some Matches,Scores & Schedules),

    please let us know in MaxPreps Database. We hope to see you soon. NHS Football Hub is always with you.

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

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