Final answer:
New/improved methods of building ships were driven by the desire to expand navigational reach and improve maneuverability, incorporating innovations like the caravel's design, lateen sails, and the magnetic compass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advancements in shipbuilding stemmed from the need to travel further and improve navigational capabilities. The improvements such as the introduction of the caravel, a ship with a larger hull for more provisions, the sternpost rudder for better steering, and the combination of square and lateen sails enabled sailing into the wind and improved maneuverability. Furthermore, the adoption of non-Western technologies like the magnetic compass and refinements in devices like the astrolabe allowed for open ocean navigation, shifting away from coastal dependency. Ships like the Viking longships with their shallow draft, and the Athenian triremes, specially built for naval prowess, showcase different regional approaches to shipbuilding. Even grand Chinese treasure ships displayed the sheer scale and ambition in naval engineering with their massive size and purported supernatural protections.