MGMT 1030 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Caravel, Laudanum, Analgesic
11 May 2016
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Document Summary
Early demand for spices, porcelain and silk predate direct european contact with china, Trade conducted through intermediaries along silk road and into venice etc. This route dominated by italians and later by arab and turkish intermediaries. Portugal, england, the dutch etc. all wished to enter the trade free of the middlemen, but technology limits that possibility. Change in navigation instruments and in ship design begins to make longer voyages possible. Compass, astrolabe (for latitude) timekeeping and detailed charts make sailing away from land easier, but still dangerous. Ships had more masts to allow faster progress and to allow them to tack into the wind. Hull designs became smoother, less prone to leakage and faster. The carrack and the caravel were key vessels in the 15th and 16th century. Large, three masted with castles at the rear and large cargo capacity. Ocean travel is still dangerous, but is possible.
