What is carravel?

A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship that was developed in the 15th century. It was primarily used for trade and exploration and was favored by Portuguese explorers like Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus. It had a distinctive design, with two or three decks and a small, triangular sail at the front called a lateen sail. Caravels were also equipped with a rudder, which allowed them to navigate with greater accuracy than previous ships. The caravel was the first ship to cross the Atlantic and played a significant role in the European age of exploration. Its design and technology were quickly adopted by other sailors and eventually became the standard for vessels of its size and purpose.