AP ILLUSTRATED EXAMPLE: Dhows, Caravels, Junks, and Spanish Galleons
Indian Ocean Dhow
1) In which trade system was this ship used?
2) Noteshrink chapter 15 and give two important
details about this ship’s construction.
Caravel: ships used by Columbus
with a rectangular main mast and
rear lateen sails
Caravel
Which form of Muslim technology
was employed in this ship’s
design?
Chinese Junk: Zheng He, Ming
Dynasty exploration period 14001430
Chinese Junk (Zheng He)
When were Zheng He’s voyages?
During which dynasty?
Where did Zheng He travel to?
What was the purpose of his
voyages?
Notice how small the Nina, a European caravel, was in
relation to Zheng He’s treasure ship junk.
What happened to Ming trade after
Zheng He died? Why?
Now let’s look at a later naval development, the Spanish galleon. These powerful boats employed
Chinese naval technology in their use of stern-post rudders. The stern is in the back of the ship.
The rudder, a piece of wood mounted at the stern, was used to direct the ship’s course.
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th
to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with cannons.
They were about 150 feet long and weighed about 2000 tons.
From the late 1500s into the early 1800s, the Spanish sailed from Acapulco, Mexico to Manila in
the Philippines. (The voyages stopped when Mexico gained freedom from Spain).The boats are
sometimes referred to as the Manila galleons. The Spanish traded silver with Ming China in
exchange for spices, porcelain and silk. Food from the Americas also reached Ming China, which
led to a population increase in East Asia.
Write four questions and answers based on your knowledge of the Manila galleons. Two of the
questions must involve interactions, trade or cultural diffusion.