Title: A Portuguese Carrack before the wind.
Description: A carrack was a large galleon used in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. Portuguese ships arrived in the Indian Ocean in 1498, looking for a sea route to the silks and spices of the East. The Portuguese took over many of the existing routes, and controlled the Indian Ocean trade through force of arms. For many years, English East Indiamen competed with the Portugese for the lucrative eastern trade.
Creator: Pieter Brueghal (1525-69)
Date: c. 1550
Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London
