* Medieval ends with the beginning of new navigational exploration in 1492

Carracks were the first proper ocean-going ships in Europe.
Carracks often reached 1,200 tons. They were used for trading voyages to India, China, and the Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese. They were 3 masted with square sails on the fore and main masts and lateen-rigged on the mizzen. They had very high fore and aft-castles. She carried an immense amount of power and thus was able to easily fend off pirates. Only through surprise could one hope to take one of these towering giants.


http://www.geocities.com/captcutlass/Ship.html



Cristoforo Colombo (1451-1506) was a Genoese navigator and admiral
whose four transatlantic voyages in the service of Spain
in 1492-1493, 1493-1496, 1498-1500, and 1502-1504
opened the Americas to European exploration and colonization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus




http://www.templaricavalieri.it/cappella_rosslyn.htm