Final answer:
During the Renaissance, the caravel, improved navigation instruments like the astrolabe and compass, and advanced shipbuilding techniques including new sail designs and the sternpost rudder, enabled explorers to travel further into the open ocean.
Step-by-step explanation:
Technological Advancements in Renaissance Navigation
During the Renaissance, several technological improvements paved the way for grand explorations and discoveries. Here are 3 key innovations:
The Caravel: A new style of ship with a robust design, the caravel had a larger hull to store more provisions, allowing for extended voyages. Its rudder was moved to the stern for improved maneuverability, and it featured a lateen sail that enabled it to sail against the wind, a technique known as 'tacking'.
Navigation Instruments: Mariners benefited greatly from tools like the astrolabe, which allowed for celestial navigation, finding one's latitude by measuring the angle of stars above the horizon. The magnetic compass, originating from China, also provided a reliable means for determining direction.
Shipbuilding Techniques: The combination of square and lateen sails on ships enabled navigation in multiple wind conditions. The sternpost rudder, innovated in China, made steering against currents possible, transforming how sailors ventured into the ocean.
These advancements were crucial to enabling navigators to leave coastal waters and embark on open-ocean expeditions, leading to a new era of exploration.