how did captains plot their course on galkeons

How did pirates sail galleons?

History, Pirates & galleons, s.v. "Sailing a galleon," accessed January 10, 2022. Both galleons and pirate ships relied solely on the power of the wind to move them forward. The sails were designed to get maximum advantage from the wind. By adjusting the position of the sails, the ship could change direction.

How were the masts of a galleon rigged?

Men climbed up and down the rigging on rope ladders, called ratlines. The galleon had three masts. From the bow (front of the ship) they were the foremast, mainmast and mizzen mast. The standing rigging held the masts securely in position.

What happened to Sir Francis Drake’s galleon?

Revenge, a galleon built in 1577, the flagship of Sir Francis Drake in the Battle of the Spanish Armada in 1588, was captured by a Spanish fleet off Flores in the Azores in 1591 and sank while being sailed back to Spain.

What was the engagement between a Spanish galleon and a Dutch ship?

Engagement between a Spanish galleon and a Dutch ship, found in The Story of the Barbary Corsairs’ by Stanley Lane-Poole, published in 1890 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons. Following the Armada, more emphasis was put on gunnery.

How did they build galleons?

Galleons were constructed from oak (for the keel), pine (for the masts) and various hardwoods for hull and decking. Hulls were usually carvel-built. The expenses involved in galleon construction were enormous. Hundreds of expert tradesmen (including carpenters, pitch-melters, blacksmiths, coopers, shipwrights, etc.)

What instrument did sailors plot their destination in?

Compasses, which indicate direction relative to the Earth's magnetic poles, are used in navigation on land, at sea, and in the air. Compasses were being used for navigation by the 1100s, and are still the most familiar navigational tools in the world.

How did sailors use the stars to navigate?

When the sun set at night, sailors used the stars to navigate. Stars move across the sky from east to west, and some stars, called rise and set stars, begin and end their nightly path below the horizon. Sailors determined their heading by watching the movement of the stars the same way they watched the sun's movement.

What navigation tools did Christopher Columbus use?

To do this, Columbus used celestial navigation, which is basically using the moon, sun, and stars to determine your position. Other tools that were used by Columbus for navigational purposes were the compass, hourglass, astrolabe, and quadrant.

What are two tools you could use to plot the course of a ship?

Lead line. Perhaps the oldest navigational tool on record originating in Egypt, the lead line is a measuring tool designed to assess the depth of the water and take a sample of the ocean floor. ... Compass. ... Compass rose. ... Sand glass. ... Cross staff. ... Nocturnal. ... Quadrant. ... Astrolabe.More items...•

How did sailors find latitude?

To find the ship's latitude, sailors used a tool called a sextant. The sextant measured the angle created by the noon sun, the ship, and the visible horizon. When the measurement of this angle was determined, it could be converted to degrees latitude by using a chart provided in the Nautical Almanac.

How did ancient sailors draw maps?

The Map-Making Methods of the Ancient World Maps of the ancient world were made by using accurate surveying techniques, which measures the positions of various objects by calculating the distance and angles between each point.

How did sailors find their way in unknown waters?

South Pacific navigators created wave maps from bent sticks and memorized them before heading out to sea. Often, instead of watching the ocean's surface, they would lie in the bottom of their canoes and detect minuscule changes in the way the canoe pitched, rolled, or corkscrewed.

Why are sailors always scrubbing the deck?

Sailors swabbed the deck — and not just to keep it clean. The saltwater helped keep down mildew on the wooden boards and kept them swollen to reduce leaks. The crew's toilet was a hole at the bow or head of the ship. Ocean spray or a frayed rope took care of the wipe.

Which scientific instruments helped the sailors in their sea voyage?

Thus, the compass helped to identify the direction. Few of the other tools which were used are- Nautical Charts, astrolabe and quadrant.

Why do sea captains use cardinal points?

Cardinal marks indicate the direction of safety as a cardinal (compass) direction (north, east, south or west) relative to the mark. This makes them meaningful regardless of the direction or position of the approaching vessel, in contrast to the (perhaps better-known) lateral mark system.

How did European explorers navigate?

0:544:07Navigation Tools During the Age of Exploration - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis magnetic compass was introduced to europe around 1100 after people in europe began trading withMoreThis magnetic compass was introduced to europe around 1100 after people in europe began trading with the people of china europeans began using the tool to navigate the ocean for trade.

Why did Europeans use galleons?

Many European countries used galleons as merchant or supply ships in peace, and could quickly convert them to war ships in times of trouble. The Spanish used the vast amount of cargo space in the galleon to carry the New World treasure across the Atlantic. The galleon could withstand the rigors of ocean voyages.

What was the galleon design?

The galleon design varied between regions. The shipwright varied hull and sail configuration based on the ship’s homeport, its destination, and the cargo it carried. Galleons were also fitted as warships and tended to have more ribs and bracing to withstand gunfire.

How many masts does a galleon have?

The galleon usually carried three masts, and the fore and main masts were square rigged, with the mizzenmast being lateen rigged. Below the bowsprit was a “beak” used for ramming. The forecastle was lower than the aft castle with a flat stern for speed.

When was the galleon invented?

The galleon developed in the early 16th century from ships such as the caravel and the carrack. Date: 1500 CE - 1700 CE.

Why was the caravel elongated?

The caravel was like sailing a bathtub, so the hull of the galleon was elongated for stability , and the forecastle was lowered, creating less wind resistance that helped increase the speed of the ship and its ability to maneuver.

What was the Galleon at War?

The Galleon at War. For most of the 16 th century, the Spanish clung to an old-fashioned model of naval warfare in which most of the damage was done through boarding actions. Guns were used just for preliminary bombardments and few shots were fired compared with some other navies.

Where did the galleon come from?

Though its exact origins are uncertain, the galleon design combined distinct features of ships from the Mediterranean and northern Europe – two regions in which the Spanish found themselves fighting.

Why were Spanish galleons important?

Emerging in the mid-16 th century, the Spanish galleon quickly became hugely important both to naval warfare and to securing civilian trade from the Americas.

What was the Spanish galleon?

The Spanish galleon was a deadly weapon that helped ensure Spain’s place as a leading world power. But any weapon was only as effective as the men wielding it, and the rise of British and Dutch naval power was made possible by Spanish commanders who failed to capitalize on the galleon’s potential.

When was the first galleon built?

The first galleon can arguably be dated to as early as 1517, but it was in the 1530s that the design and its name became common. With a mix of sails, high aftcastle, low forecastle, and ports in its sides from which cannons could fire, it could handle trans-Atlantic voyages as well as fierce sea battles. It, therefore, filled a vital role ...

What were oared galleys used for?

In the Mediterranean, oared galleys were common as fighting ships, and by the early 16 th century these carried cannons at the front. They also made use of lateen-rigged sails. They were good for fighting in relatively still waters but lacked the stability for ocean voyages.

What were the foods that were eaten during shifts?

Meals were generally eaten around shift changes and consisted mostly of wheat biscuits, beans, pulses, and rough red wine, with salted beef or fish depending on supplies and the day of the week.

Etymology

The term " galleon " was originally given to certain types of war galleys in the Middle Ages. The Annali Genovesi mentions galleons of 80, 64 and 60 oars, used for battle and on missions of exploration, in the 12th and 13th centuries. It is very likely that the galleons and galliots mentioned in the accounts of the crusades were the same vessels.

History

The galleon was an wind going ship type which devolved from the carrack in the second half of 16th century. A lowering of the forecastle and elongation of the hull gave galleons an unprecedented level of stability in the water, and reduced wind resistance at the front, leading to a faster, more maneuverable vessel.

Construction

Galleons were constructed from oak (for the keel), pine (for the masts) and various hardwoods for hull and decking. Hulls were usually carvel -built. The expenses involved in galleon construction were enormous.

Distinguishing features

The most distinguishing features of the galleon include the long beak, the lateen-rigged mizzenmasts, and the square gallery at the stern off the captain's cabin. In larger galleons, a fourth mast was added, usually a lateen-rigged mizzen, called the bonaventure mizzen.

The oldest English drawings

The oldest known scale drawings in England are in a manuscript called "Fragments of Ancient Shipwrightry" made in about 1586 by Mathew Baker, a master-shipwright. This manuscript, held at the Pepysian Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge, provides an authentic reference for the size and shape of typical English galleons built during this period.

Notable galleons

São João Baptista nicknamed Botafogo, the most powerful warship when launched (1534) by the Portuguese; became famous during the conquest of Tunis, where it was commanded by Infante Luís, Duke of Beja.

How did pirates and galleons move?

Both galleons and pirate ships relied solely on the power of the wind to move them forward. The sails were designed to get maximum advantage from the wind. By adjusting the position of the sails, the ship could change direction. The sails were attached to the masts by horizontal beams called yards. Ropes, called lifts, held them in place. Other ropes, known as halyards, hoisted the sails into position. The crew climbed up and down the rigging to furl or unfurl the sails, to reach the crow’s nest, or to attack invaders on the deck below.

How many masts did the Galleon have?

The galleon had three masts. From the bow (front of the ship) they were the foremast, mainmast and mizzen mast. The standing rigging held the masts securely in position. They consisted of ropes called shrouds, which attached the masts to the ship’s sides, and stays, which ran between the masts.

What is the name of the ropes used to adjust the sails on a ship called?

The ship’s sails, together with the ropes used to adjust them, were called the rigging. A sail was attached to the mast on a horizontal yard, held in place by ties and lifts. It was hoisted into place by halyards. Men climbed up and down the rigging on rope ladders, called ratlines. The galleon had three masts.

What is the rope called that holds sails in place?

Ropes, called lifts , held them in place. Other ropes, known as halyards, hoisted the sails into position. The crew climbed up and down the rigging to furl or unfurl the sails, to reach the crow’s nest, or to attack invaders on the deck below. The boatswain instructs the crew to furl the sails. The ship's rigging.

Why was the Galleon based on the Caravel?

To that end, one hypothesis put forth in the academic circles relates to how the galleon was based on the design of caravels, possibly because of its ‘sleeker’ form-factor. However, the galleon also shared some design features with the nao, given its sturdier construction and stronger sailing rig.

What inspired the galleon?

In essence, it can be surmised that the galleon design was inspired by the combination of both the maneuverability of caravels and the hefty nature of carracks, bolstered by the millennia-old tradition of shipbuilding along the Mediterranean coast.

How many guns did the Toneladas carry?

Similarly, the smaller 500- toneladas varieties carried 24 guns, while the even tinier 300- toneladas galleons carried around 20 guns. In terms of placements, the largest guns were carried as stern chasers, while the others, divided between the two broadsides, were arranged along a long gundeck.

How many tons of galleons were there in 1570?

Source: History.com. By the 1570s, the size of the Spanish galleon was increased even further to average capacities of around 500 tons . And by 1588 AD, when the Spanish Armada arguably was at its peak, the crown boasted three humongous 1,000-ton galleons accompanied by eight 800 ton galleons and eight 600 ton galleons.

What was the Galleon?

1) The Development of the Galleon –. A Portuguese Caravel. Source: Nautarch. According to historian Angus Konstam, the early 16th century was a period of innovation for ship designs, with the adoption of better sailing rigs and onboard artillery systems.

Why was Havana the center of galleon building in the Americas?

By the 17th century, Havana became the center of galleon-building in the Americas due to its proximity to high-quality Cuban timber.

Why did the Spanish use galleons?

To that end, the early galleons, while refined in their design, tended to serve as armed platforms that could provide supporting fire and resultant smoke – the latter being used for the masked maneuvers while boarding enemy ships.

Who taught the Ionian sailors to navigate the Little Bear constellation?

The philosopher Thales of Miletos, as the Alexandrian poet Kallimachos recorded, taught Ionian sailors to navigate by the Little Bear constellation fully 600 years before the birth of Christ: Now to Miletos he steered his course. That was the teaching of old Thales.

How did the first seafarers navigate?

The first seafarers kept in sight of land. That was the first trick of navigation—follow the coast. To find an old fishing ground or the way through a shoal, one could line up landmarks, such as a near rock against a distant point on land; doing that in two directions at once gave a more or less precise geometric location on the surface of the sea. Sounding using a lead and line also helped. "When you get 11 fathoms and ooze on the lead, you are a day's journey out from Alexandria," wrote Herodotus in the fourth century B.C. The Greeks even learned to navigate from one island to the next in their archipelago, a Greek word meaning "preëminent sea." They may have followed clouds, which form over land, or odors, which can carry far out to sea.

How have charts helped mariners?

Charts have aided mariners ever since the Alexandrian astronomer Ptolemy created the first world atlas in the second century A.D. The redoubtable Ptolemy even plotted latitude and longitude lines on his atlas's 27 maps, though the farther one got from the known world centered on the Mediterranean, the dangerously less reliable they became. Even before Ptolemy, there were sailing directions—the Greeks called them periplus or "circumnavigation"—that were compiled from information collected from sailors far and wide. One of these, The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, a document written in the first century by a Greek merchant living in Alexandria, described trading routes as far east as India. By the 10th century, Italian-made portolans supplied detailed directions, distances, depths, and coastal descriptions, and by the 13th century, sea maps with scale and bearings began to appear.

What was Erik the Red's colonization scheme?

Of the 25 ships that sailed west from Norway in the year 990, only 14 arrived.

What did the Greeks learn?

The Greeks even learned to navigate from one island to the next in their archipelago, a Greek word meaning "preëminent sea.". They may have followed clouds, which form over land, or odors, which can carry far out to sea.

Who was the first Norwegian to hazard the voyage to Iceland?

One of the first Norwegian sailors to hazard the voyage to Iceland was a man known as Raven-Floki for his habit of keeping ravens aboard his vessel. When he thought he was nearing land, Raven-Floki released the ravens, which he had deliberately starved.

When was the sextant invented?

In the years after the sextant was invented in 1731, many held out hope that it would aid in east-west navigation as well—that is, in finding longitude. Sailors could employ the sextant to figure longitude using the lunar-distance method, but with the astronomical tables of the 18th century, the process could take several hours to work out one's position—not remotely good enough for sea travel. In the end, it was the dogged clockmaker, John Harrison, who solved the longitude problem with his chronometers. And today, the precocious step-child of these highly accurate clocks, the Global Positioning System, has finally proved the Roman dramatist Seneca right, when he wrote in the first century:

What happened to Nemo in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea?

During the course of the novel, he becomes increasingly despondent, possibly suffering some kind of mental breakdown. Nemo’s final fate remains unknown—it is possible that he dies in the whirlpool in which the Nautilusis caught in Norway, but also plausible that he manages to survive. Captain Nemo Quotes in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

What chapter is Captain Nemo in?

The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Part 1, Chapter 10: The Man of the Seas.

Does Arronax leave the Nautilus?

Nemosays he is happy to explain everything, seeing as Arronax will never leave the Nautilus...

The Evolution of The Galleon

Shipbuilding

Armaments

Operation

Life Onboard A Galleon

• Galleons were crowded full of soldiers, sailors, gunners, officers, and other crew and passengers. Space was at a premium. Most of those onboard slept crammed in together either below or on deck. The most senior officers got private cabins, while others of rank gained some privacy by setting up curtains or wooden screens. The crew worked in three w...

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The Galleon at War