What is the origin of the word carrack?
The name carrack derives from the Old French caraque, which likely traces back to the Arabic qaraqir meaning merchant ship or perhaps the Greek kerkuros referring to a lighter or barge.
Common questions about Carrack
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the carrack first appear in history?
Carracks were developed in the 14th and 15th centuries primarily in Portugal and Spain before evolving from the single-masted cog.
How many tons did Portuguese carracks typically displace?
Portuguese carracks were usually very large ships for their time often exceeding 1000 tons displacement.
What happened to the Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai in 1603?
The Santa Catarina was seized by the Dutch East India Company off Singapore in 1603 and its loss was a blow to the Portuguese economy.
When was the Bom Jesus discovered after sinking?
The Bom Jesus disappeared in 1533 after sailing from Lisbon and was discovered in 2008 on the coast of Namibia.
When did the galleon design replace the carrack?
The first galleons were developed from the carrack in the middle of the 16th century although carracks remained in use as late as the middle of the 17th century.