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The History and Development of Caravels

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The History and Development of Caravels THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF CARAVELS A Thesis by GEORGE ROBERT SCHWARZ Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS May 2008 Major Subject: Anthropology THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF CARAVELS A Thesis by GEORGE ROBERT SCHWARZ Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Approved by: Chair of Committee, Luis Filipe Vieira de Castro Committee Members, Donny L. Hamilton James M. Rosenheim Head of Department, Donny L. Hamilton May 2008 Major Subject: Anthropology iii ABSTRACT The History and Development of Caravels. (May 2008) George Robert Schwarz, B.A., University of Cincinnati Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Luis Filipe Vieira de Castro An array of ship types was used during the European Age of Expansion (early 15th to early 17th centuries), but one vessel in particular emerges from the historical records as a harbinger of discovery: the caravel. The problem is that little is known about these popular ships of discovery, despite the fair amount of historical evidence that has been uncovered. How big were they? How many men did it take to operate such a vessel? What kind of sailing characteristics did they have? How and by whom were they designed? Where did they originate and how did they develop? These questions cannot be answered by looking at the historical accounts alone. For this reason, scholars must take another approach for learning about caravels by examining additional sources, namely ancient shipbuilding treatises, archaeological evidence, surviving archaic shipbuilding techniques, and iconographic representations from the past. Information gained from the available sources reveals many of the caravel’s characteristics through time. This ship type outclassed its contemporaries during the age of exploration because of its highly adaptive characteristics. These traits were, principally, its shallow draught, speed, maneuverability, and ability to sail close to the iv wind. This combination of attributes made the caravel the ideal ship for reconnaissance along the rocky African coastline, as well as for making the transatlantic voyages to the New World. It was built in a Mediterranean way during its post-medieval phases, a method that still survives in some parts of the world today. During the Age of Discovery (ca. 1430 to 1530), the caravel sat low in the water, had one sterncastle, and was either lateen-rigged or had a combination of square and lateen sails. This vessel reflects the advanced shipbuilding technology that existed in Europe at this time, and played and important role in the voyages which allowed the Europeans to expand their territories around the world. The results of the studies presented in this thesis provide a history and development of the caravel, which was gradual and often obscure. What has been gained from this work is a body of information that can be applied to other studies about ancient seafaring, and can serve as a starting point for further research. v DEDICATION For my parents, sisters, and fiancée Bryana. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Researching a ship from the past without the aid of tangible archaeological evidence has proven to be an undertaking that demanded patience, long hours of research, funding for archival work in Europe, transcription and translation of often seemlingly arcane text, and more patience. More importantly, however, it required guidance from individuals far more knowledgable in the field of nautical archaeology than I initially was. So, it is with pleasure that I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of the people that have shared their time, energy, experience, and advice to help me in my pursuit of knowledge concerning the history of Iberian seafaring. I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Castro, for his support regarding research opportunities in Portugal, introducing me to other helpful Iberian nautical scholars, sharing his rare sources, and offering valuable advice on the final product of this work. Similarly, I extend my appreciation to my other committee members, Dr. Donny Hamilton and Dr. Jim Rosenheim, for their thoughtful input and words of wisdom. Thanks to Dr. Francisco Contente Domingues for his sincere interest and contribution to my research. A debt of gratitude goes to Dr. Richard Barker for sharing his information on an early quote regarding a first-hand account about the agility of caravels. Thanks to Captain E.G. Duarte for his advice on sailing dynamics and hydrostatics. I also salute the late Dr. Rob Bonnichsen for his major contribution to the structure and formation of research questions for this thesis. vii I would like to acknowledge Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD) and Instituto dos Arquivos Nacionais Torre do Tombo (IANTT) for the opportunity to travel to Portugal and conduct archival research in the National Archives as well as several other archival institutions throughout Lisbon. I appreciate the chance to get first-hand experience exploring original documents regarding this topic. Thanks to Dr. Timothy Walker for the patient guidance he provided during my fellowship at the archives. I also want to thank my friends and colleagues that have assisted me in one way or another over the course of my studies. Thanks to Tiago Miguel d’Oliveira Xavier Conde Fraga and his wife Sandra for their friendship, support, and assistance navigating the intricacies of Portugal. Thanks to Alexis and Alexa, Dante and Lilia, Randy, Wendy, Mark, Jon, Josh, and the rest of my friends who, because of their enthusiasm, have made this process more rewarding in the end. Last but most certainly not least, I would like to express the deepest gratitude to my patient friend, editor, colleague, accomplice, and fiancée-soon-to-be-wife Bryana for her tireless effort and constant encouragement throughout the writing and researching process. I hope you know I will always appreciate and admire your love and dedication. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................... xi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... xvi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1 II IBERIAN SEAFARING TRADITION ............................................... 11 Origins of Expansion...................................................................... 11 Emergence of Portugal as a Seafaring Nation................................ 15 Early Efforts at Exploration in the High Seas ................................ 21 Developments Leading to Portuguese Exploration and Expansion....................................................................................... 23 Motivation of the Infante................................................................ 25 Initial Voyages of Discovery and Slave Raiding ........................... 28 Further Advancements along the Guinea Coast and the Voyages of Cadamosto.................................................................................. 33 Additional Voyages of Discovery .................................................. 35 Monumental Discoveries................................................................ 37 III SHIPS OF DISCOVERY..................................................................... 44 Barcha ............................................................................................ 45 Barinel............................................................................................ 48 Caravela......................................................................................... 50 Nau ................................................................................................. 53 ix CHAPTER Page IV THE ETYMOLOGY AND POSSIBLE ORIGINS OF CARAVELS . 58 Roots of the Word ‘Caravela’........................................................ 59 Research of 19th-Century Scholars................................................ 60 Post-Medieval Dictionaries and Glossaries.................................... 62 Conclusions of 19th- and Early 20th-Century Maritime Historians....................................................................................... 65 V HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND THE CARAVEL’S SHIFT THROUGH TIME................................................................................ 70 Emergence of the Caravel .............................................................. 70 Twelfth-Century Italian Sources ................................................ 70 Early Portuguese References...................................................... 71 Continued Development and Early 15th-Century Sources ........ 73 Caravels of the Discoveries............................................................ 75 Early Reconnaissance Expeditions............................................. 75 Ability to Sail Windward ..........................................................
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