- Innovations in ship design and a better understanding of windpatterns and currents played a key role in European exploration.- Caravels, oceangoing ships, were invented by the Portuguese in the15th century.- Europeans needed ships that could maneuver more efficiently in theAtlantic Ocean.- Caravels were smaller than traditional European ships and provided sailors access to shallow coastal waters and allowed them to explore upriver.- The lateen sail was used, which gave the ships increased maneuverability.- The traditional square sail was also used; in combination with the lateen sail, it gave the caravel great speed.- Carracks were three- or four-masted ocean-sailing ships that were used extensively as part of the trans-Atlantic trading system.

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