History glossary
caravel
a small, maneuverable sailing ship used by Portuguese and Spanish explorers in long-distance Atlantic voyages.
- Category
- Maritime technology
- Region
- Atlantic world
- Date range
- 15th-16th centuries
What it means
A small, maneuverable sailing ship whose rigging made it useful for Atlantic exploration. Caravels helped Portuguese and Spanish sailors travel farther, test unfamiliar coasts, and return with navigational knowledge.
