SEAFARERS
Sea-going craft have been built for at least 50,000 years. The first boats were probably log rafts or hollowed out tree trunks. At some point, people came up with the idea of catching the wind by raising a piece of cloth – the first sail. As ship building methods improved, sailors set off on longer voyages, using their ships to explore, to trade, and to raid.
EGYPTIAN SHIP
This Egyptian sea-going merchant ship is constructed from planks tied together with rope, and dates from 2,450 BCE. Its collapsible mast carried a single square sail. Travelling against the wind, the crew lowered the mast and used oars.
CARAVEL
The caravel was a ship for exploration, invented by the Portuguese in the 15th century. It had lateen (triangular) sails, which are much better at sailing into the wind than square sails. In ships like this, explorers found the sea route to India.
VIKING LONGSHIP
From the 8th to 11th centuries, Vikings built ships strong enough to sail the stormy Atlantic Ocean, and light and slim enough to travel up shallow rivers.
GALLEON
This 16th century English galleon warship was also used in trading and exploration. It had several decks, with many openings in the sides of the hull from which guns were fired. European navies used the galleon until the 18th century.
ROMAN MERCHANT SHIP
The Romans built merchant ships with big, round bellies that could store large amounts of cargo. This shape made them stable but very slow. They were usually safe from attack, because the Romans had rid the Mediterranean Sea of pirates.
ARAB DHOW
From the 8th century, Arab merchants and fishermen crossed the Indian Ocean in dhows. They sailed with the monsoon winds, trading goods between India and North Africa.
CHINESE JUNK
The stern-mounted rudder, easier to control than a steering oar, was invented by the Chinese, 2,000 years ago. Chinese ships, called junks, could have up to nine masts, and were the largest wooden sailing ships in history.
CLIPPER
The clipper was a 19th century trading ship with a long, slim hull and multiple sails. The name “clipper” was originally a nickname for a fast horse. British and US clippers sailed all around the world on trading journeys.
Picture Credit : Google
