Carrack ocean merchant-war ship

Timeline

1. c. 1380Portuguese Atlantic coast · PortugalIn the Atlantic ports of Portugal and Castile, merchants fused Mediterranean galley techniques with Northern European sailing ship structures, producing prototypes of multi-masted merchant ships with deeper drafts suited for open-sea voyaging, laying the foundation for the carrack's final form.
2. 1381–1390Canary Islands route · Canary IslandsBetween 1381 and 1390, Iberian fleets used improved Atlantic sailing ships to travel to and from the Canary Islands, carrying sugar, slaves, and supplies; hull size and armament gradually increased, reflecting the early carrack's combined merchant-war character.
3. c. 1430–1490Gulf of Guinea coast · Gulf of GuineaIn the African explorations promoted by Prince Henry, the carrack became the main ship type for Portuguese southward exploration, with its ocean endurance and cargo capacity supporting the expansion of gold and slave trade networks.
4. c. 1500–1600Indian Ocean–Atlantic Ocean route · Indian OceanCarracks carried the spice trade, colonial supplies, and transoceanic immigrant transport, becoming the iconic ship type of 16th-century European maritime expansion, until larger galleons gradually replaced their role as ocean-going main ships.