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John Cabot, explored the New
England coastline of the Americas for England. The
Portuguese sea captain Pedro Cabral landed in South
America in 1500. May have developed the idea of sailing westward to reach the riches of Asia while working for a Venetian merchant. -
Christopher Columbus left Spain on his fourth voyage to the New World, landing back on the islands of Martinique and Jamaica in June. This voyage would take him to Central America, but not to North America.
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Indian culture flourishes in Florida as exemplified by the woodcarving in the Calusa culture. The Calusa had been living in this area for 1,000 years prior to European contact.
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By 1500, all four masts carried top sails and the main and force mast added a third sail called a top gallant. This rapid prolifertion of sails results in the first evidence of crew actually beings stationed in the ringing, rather than working the sails entirely from the deck.
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Cabral's 13 ships left on March 9, 1500, following the route of Vasco da Gama. With only four of the original 13 ships, they left with. 1500 men was sent to India
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The design of caravels underwent changes over the years, but a typical caravel of the late 15th century may be described as a broad-beamed vessel of 50 or 60 tons burden; some were as large as 160 tons. About 75 feet (23 m) long, the typical caravel had two or three pole masts, lateen-rigged (i.e., with triangular sails).
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During the Second World War designated convoy rescue ships accompanied some Atlantic convoys to rescue survivors from ships that had been attacked. Rescue ships were typically small freighters with passenger accommodations converted to rescue service. This involved enlarging galley and food storage areas and providing berthing and sanitary facilities for approximately 150 men.
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In April 1500, the second Portuguese India Armada, headed by Pedro Álvares Cabral, with a crew of expert captains, including Bartolomeu Dias and Nicolau Coelho, encountered the Brazilian coast as it swung westward in the Atlantic while performing a large "volta do mar" to avoid becalming in the Gulf of Guinea.
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In 1500 Amerigo Vespucci a Florentine, went along on several voyages and wrote letters describing the lands he saw. These
letters led to the use of the name America (after
Amerigo) for the new lands. -
Carracks were larger ships for war and commerce, they had
high platforms at front and back from which to fire at opponents
armed with cannons, square sails for more sail area. Also a
large payload attached.
