Maritime Mechanics
Technology was not found on the land, but also on the sea. Throughout the Age of Exploration, daring seafarers ventured out onto the uncharted oceans, combating the perils of the deep sea in their epic quest for the riches. However, this was not a painless task as it may sometimes be made out to be. It would not have been possible if not for the somewhat underappreciated innovators who remained on the land, those who made it possible for these seafarers to set sail on the waves.
Nautical technology originates in the early times, up to 900,000 years ago, as suggested by evidence found in Flores. Humans have been using all forms of nautical technology in order to navigate bodies of water that make up up to 70% of the Earth. However, some of the most significant developments in these technologies may be found during the Age of Exploration.
The Age of Exploration began subsequent to the European requirement for sea-routes to Asia, for reasons affiliated with commerce. However, these reasons expanded into those that were religious, economic and governmental. Therefore, there was a fundamental demand for nautical technologies.
These technologies came in the form of naval, cartographical and navigational. In this respect, ships were improved in order to allow the further and expedited navigation of the seas, maps were developed in order to allow Europeans more knowledge about the lands that surrounded them, therefore allowing them to carve out more efficient routes and devices were invented in order to allow the navigators of these ships to keep track of their positions.
In the 1400s, shipwrights began to assemble ships with lateen sails, which allowed ships to sail against the wind. This allowed routes that did not travel in the direction of the wind, which may have been safer and faster. Moreover, single-masts were replaced with multiple masts, which allowed more speed and the rudders of ships were moved from the side to the stern in order to increase maneuverability.
Furthermore, maps were another form of nautical technology developed during the Age of Exploration. Ptolemy is credited for being one of the most notable cartographers, whose maps were produced throughout the Hellenistic period. Perhaps one of the major factors contributing to his success was the ideology of the Renaissance, which encouraged the rebirth and introduction of forms of art, literature and technology. Cartography was definitely a form of technology, however may have also been viewed as a form of art.
Moreover, the formation of the Americas was another factor contributing to developments in cartography. There was a significant demand for maps of Americas as the colonies within them were the most emigrated to by Europeans. Juan de la Cosa accompanied Christopher Columbus on his voyage to the Americas, therefore is credited with being the first cartographer to map out the Americas. Also, these maps were refined by cartographers such as Amerigo Vespucci, after whom America was named.