Final answer:
Europeans learned new shipbuilding technology from the Chinese, which included the sternpost rudder, the compass, gunpowder, and the printing press. These technologies were crucial for European advancements in navigation and exploration during the Age of Exploration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The new shipbuilding technology was learned from the Chinese. During the Age of Exploration, Europeans adopted several non-European maritime technologies that were crucial for navigation and exploration. Notably, the sternpost rudder, created in China in the thirteenth century, allowed for better steering against currents. Other Chinese inventions such as the compass, which was guiding ships by 1100 CE, the gunpowder, and the printing press, were instrumental technologies that found their way to Europe through international trade networks, predominantly those dominated by Arab merchants.
The adoption of these technologies marked a significant improvement in shipbuilding and navigation techniques. This led to significant advancements, allowing European sailors to sail away from the safety of coastal navigation into the open ocean. Elements such as the lateen sail and the magnetic compass were adopted, which previously helped Arab and Chinese sailors in the Middle East and Asia respectively navigate effectively.