CARAVELA

By Victor M Fontane

The caravela is a type of boat that was invented by the Portuguese, having been widely used at the time of the Discoveries, between the 15th and 16th centuries. It is not known the origin of the name or the inspiration for the construction of the caravela, but what is certain is that it was thanks to the development of this boat that the Portuguese were able to venture across the seas, since the use of triangular sails allows for navigation of a safer way against the wind.

It was in the caravelas that the Portuguese made some of their most impressive feats, such as the dubbing of Cabo das Tormentas (later known as Cabo da Boa Esperança) by Bartolomeu Dias, in 1448. The convoy ended up copying by other countries, who used it in their maritime navigation.Also, the use of Calaveras was important to the Spanish in the conquest of the Americas.