Age of
Exploration
Changes in Technology
Today’s Lesson
In today’s class we will learn about the changes
in the instruments and ships used by the
explorers that made their discoveries possible.
● The Caravel
● Navigational tools.
● How to work out speed.
The Caravel
● The types of ships used before the 15th and
16th centuries were not suitable for travelling
long distances.
● But the Portuguese
invented a new type of
ship that could travel long
distances called a
‘caravel’.
The Caravel
● Caravels were ‘clinker
built’. This means that
the boards of the ship
overlapped, making them
stronger.
● These ships were
steered by ‘rudders’
which made it easier to
The Caravel
● They used both
square and ‘lateen’
sails.
● The also used raised
decks called ‘castles’
which made it easier
to see faraway land
and other ships.
Navigation
Before the Age of Exploration, sailors would
navigate by using:
● Coastline
● Stars
● Sun
● Horizon
Why were these methods not very reliable?
The Compass
● How does a
compass work?
● How would it help
sailors to navigate?
Longitude and Latitude
Quadrants and Astrolabes
● ‘Astrolabes’ were pointed
at the North Star to tell the
latitude.
● ‘Quadrants’ were pointed
at the sun to tell the
latitude.
The technology to work out
longitude didn’t exist until the
18th century when the
‘chronometer’ was invented.
Speed
● To work out the speed the
ship was moving, sailors
used a ‘log and line’.
● This is where we get the
term ‘knots’ to describe
the speed of ships and
boats.
In Conclusion
1. Carvels could sail long distances because
they had square and lateen sails, a rudder,
and were clinker-built.
2. The compass was used to navigate where
North was.
3. Quadrants and Astrolabes were used to tell
the latitude.
4. Speed was measured using a log and line.
Homework
Create an advertisement for a new boat called a caravel.
This should be a one-page ad that could appear in a
newspaper or magazine.
Your ad must include:
● A coloured drawing of the caravel
● Why people should be interested
● A list of what the caravel does
● A made up quote from someone living at the time.
● A new piece of technology that can be used on it.