Which ship is described as a small, highly maneuverable three-masted vessel used by the Portuguese and Spanish in the exploration of the Atlantic?

Which ship is described as a small, highly maneuverable three-masted vessel used by the Portuguese and Spanish in the exploration of the Atlantic?

• A. Viking
• B. Caravel
• C. Gunpowder
• D. Mariner's Astrolabe

Answer: (B)

Sailors venturing into the Atlantic during the age of exploration needed a ship that could travel long distances but still be nimble enough to navigate along coastlines and into rivers. The caravel was designed for that purpose. It was a relatively small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed by the Portuguese, featuring a rig that often included three masts and lateen sails. This setup allowed it to sail efficiently against some winds and to adjust quickly to changing conditions, making it ideal for exploring unknown shores and pushing farther down the African coast and across the Atlantic. The caravel’s combination of manageable size, agility, and versatile rigging made it the workhorse of Iberian exploration. Viking ships were longships from an earlier era used mainly for raiding and northern voyages, not the Iberian Atlantic explorations. A mariner’s astrolabe is an instrument used for navigation, not a vessel. Gunpowder refers to a weapon, not a ship.

Sailors venturing into the Atlantic during the age of exploration needed a ship that could travel long distances but still be nimble enough to navigate along coastlines and into rivers. The caravel was designed for that purpose. It was a relatively small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed by the Portuguese, featuring a rig that often included three masts and lateen sails. This setup allowed it to sail efficiently against some winds and to adjust quickly to changing conditions, making it ideal for exploring unknown shores and pushing farther down the African coast and across the Atlantic. The caravel’s combination of manageable size, agility, and versatile rigging made it the workhorse of Iberian exploration.

Viking ships were longships from an earlier era used mainly for raiding and northern voyages, not the Iberian Atlantic explorations. A mariner’s astrolabe is an instrument used for navigation, not a vessel. Gunpowder refers to a weapon, not a ship.