Who else in the world was prepared to discover and seek the fortunes of the seas?

Three accomplished civilizations, the Chinese, the Arabs and the Maya had reasons
not to launch into the age of discovery, even though each had ships that were
distinctively seaworthy.   Click to return to questions


The Chinese


     The Chinese in terms of both shipbuilding technology and navigational expertise
had capabilities that surpassed those of western Europeans.  The Chinese invented
compasses, which they were using as early as the eleventh century.  Also, the
Chinese were able to combine their ability to locate simple compass directions with an
understanding of celestial navigation.  Chinese astronomers had kept track of
occurrences in the heavens.  The records the Chinese kept were so accurate that they
are still used by astronomers today.  
    The medieval Chinese junk was not only remarkably seaworthy, but far more
comfortable than the European vessels.  The Chinese had strong, seaworthy ships.  In
Athe fifteenth century, the junk was a formidable vessel of Oriental commerce.  We have
found records telling us of five-masted junks with four decks and hundreds of crew.  A
thirty-seven-foot rudder is displayed in one Chinese museum indicative of the size and
capacity of these ancient ships.  These early junks measured over 150 feet in length
and descended from ancient raft designs, that is, they were flat-bottomed and did not
have a keel.  The junks offered a high level of passenger comfort in their day.  These
ships were efficient , flat-set and had sails that are easily reefed.  Today, we associate
the word junk with small Chinese vessels, but this description has changed over time. 

     In 1405 the Chinese emperor Grand Eunuch Cheng Ho began the first of seven
voyages designed to show the power of China in the norther Indian Ocean.  He had a
fleet of sixty-three junks.  By the time the expedition ended in 1433, the junks had
traveled as far as to the present day Kenya on the African coast.   These voyages
spread the Chinese prestige and influence.  The Chinese thought themselves the most
civilized race in the world.  The voyage ships became known as "treasure ships"
bringing back exotic plants and animals to Beijing, including a giraffe.  
     In 1424, the Imperial court stated that there would be no
More official or privately organized long-distance voyages,  eventually even
the building of seagoing craft was prohibited.  Another reason for withdrawing from the
seas was that the Chinese were concerned with encroachments along their long 
border.  Horsemen were now a threat, and ships divided the Chinese.  


The Arabs

     Arabs were merchant sailors.  The sailing vessel of the Arabs was similar to the
traditional vessel of norther Europe and they were called dhows.   Arab shipbuilding,
however, was different from the traditional European wooden boat.  Instead of using
wooden pegs or iron nails to secure side planks to the stem and stern posts, the Arabs
relied on stitching.  For their stitching, they used coir, which is twine made from the
tough fibers of the coconut.  These ships had the advantage of being able to be easily
repaired, even completely restitched if necessary.  Also, unlike the pegged or nailed
European craft, these vessels with sewn planking were able to "give" in the rough
ocean waters.  

     Another characteristic of Arab shipping was the use of the lanteen sail.  Unlike a
square-rigged ship, a lanteen-rigged craft runs its sail along a line parallel to the keel,
like a modern fore-and-aft rigged sailboat.  The main advantage of the lanteen rig is its
ability to take a ship close to the wind.  The lanteen was a good sail for the Indian
Ocean trade routes with their monsoon-driven wind pattens.  The square-rigged ships
lacked this advantage.  Two of Columbus's ships on his first voyage were caravels, one
of them was initially lateen-rigged.  Although these ships were of norther European
construction, they had the hull shape of Arab dhows.  These ships were both
successful in making the return trip across the Atlantic.  The Arabs believed there were
three land masses, Asia, Africa and Europe. They believed that the earth was a sphere
and accepted Ptolemy's system of applying a grid of latitude and longitude lines to
their maps.
     In addition, we are sure the compass was standard equipment on Arab ships by
the early fifteenth century.  The Arabs also had considerable astronomical knowledge
and they knew the relative positions of the stars.  They used a kamal, a knotted strong
and board to determine the location of the stars above the horizon.  Vasco de Gama
enlisted the help or Arab mariners on his way from Africa to India.  
     We think the Arabs did not use their compass and kamal knowledge as well as
their equally superior lateen-rigged ships for discovery because of their cultural and
religious preferences.  In addition, the Arabs held superstitions about the southern
oceans and felt that the south Atlantic was the "Green Sea of Darkness" where a "ship
would stick fast in gelatinous slime, loathsome monsters hovered in the depths, and
men turned black beneath a scorching sun."  Also, the trading domains of the medieval
Arabs seemed quite sufficient with in itself.  Overseas exploration did not have the
same economic reward to the Arabs because they had much of the wealth close at
hand.  


 The Mayas

 The Maya had possession of astronomical knowledge that could have led to
ocean navigation.  In addition, their solar-based calendar which was divided into 365
days.  They compiled accurate tables for predicting lunar eclipses and they were able
to determine exactly when and where on the horizon planets visible to the naked eye
would rise.  
     Although the Maya were at home upon the seas, their nautical technology never
advanced beyond a rudimentary level.  The Maya had no sails and most of their
commerce was carried out by canoe.  Their canoes were large and sturdy holding up to
forty people, but without a means of harnessing the great power of the wind were at a
disadvantage in the age of exploration.  Unfortunately, this culture never advanced to
the use of sails.  Perhaps this is because their land was rich in resources essential to
their survival.  Their self-sufficiency stiffeled the urge to explore to greater regions.