Caravel

Definition

A caravel is a small, fast Spanish or Portuguese sailing ship from the 15th–17th centuries. They were primarily used for oceanic exploration voyages during these periods.

Related terms

Galleon: Larger type of ship that was heavily armed; it was used especially by Spanish fleets during late Middle Ages.

Sextant: An instrument used for measuring angular distances between objects and especially for taking altitudes in navigation.

Astrolabe: An ancient device used before sextants were invented; it helped sailors determine latitude at sea by measuring the angle between the horizon and a celestial body like the sun or stars.