The Case of Portuguese Expansion

TECHNOLOGY AND HETEROGENEOUS ENGINEERING: The Case of Portuguese Expansion Interpretation of an Article by John Law PORTUGUESE CARAVEL_1497 The lightweight caravel converted wind from various directions into forward motion and had a small crew making exploration possible further off shore. 444t a ITALIAN GALLEY_1291 The elements that associated to make the galley a good warship were an impediment to carrying cargo, and its large crew prevented it from succeeding in ventures far from land. THE VOLTA While the Canaries current and tradewinds along the African coast made the southern journey quick, with a compass it was easier to return to Portugal by heading further out to sea. INDIAN SPICE TRADE DOMINANCE It was the network of these forces working together - caravel, volta and enhanced navigation - that allowed Portuguese explorers to reach India, and, more importantly, return home with their bounty. SIMPLIFIED ASTROLABE The combination of a simplified astrolabe, a metric of coastal latitudes and a set of rules and training initiated by the King turned mariners into expert navigators. 4. ELEMENTS DMGT 702_FALL 2009 "The stability and form of artifacts should be seen as a function of the interaction of heterogenous elements as these are shaped and assimiliated into WOOD SAILS MEN STARS MONARCH BRIANA C. LANG WIND CURRENTS SUPPLIES COMPASS REGIMENTO a network."