The discovery of America and the consolidation of national states in Europe (Portugal, Spain, Holland, France and England) meant that funds were allocated from their coffers to build their fleets and be able to explore the New World.

Unlike the caravels, which fell into disuse, the naos and carracks underwent greater improvements and transformations, until they became a new type of vessel, known as a galleon, of which there were different variants, such as the Spanish galleon and the English galleon.

Sometimes the carracas, or any ship, were called naos, using the expression nao in its general sense of ship or vessel. But naos were also a specific type of ship.

Although the hull was very similar in shape, that of the carracas was reinforced with straps and external wooden bularcamas; not the one on the ships.

The bow and stern castles were larger in the carracas than in the naos.

The ships only had a lateen sail on the mizzen, and only had foremast and maintops. The size of the three masts of the naos was not as different as in the carracas.

The tonnage of the ships varied between 100 and 500 tons. The smaller ones were exploration ships, and the larger ones were cargo or war ships.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages, especially from the 19th century onwards, the carracks and ships had already incorporated more masts, more sails, including lateen sails, which, combined with their resistance and carrying capacity, made them the workhorse of maritime trade routes, serving from Iceland in the north, the Azores in the west and the African coasts, even the Indian Ocean in the south. It can be argued that at this point, Europe as a whole had achieved world supremacy in shipbuilding.

The discovery of America and the consolidation of national states in Europe (Portugal, Spain, Holland, France and England) meant that funds were allocated from their coffers to build their fleets and be able to explore the New World.

Unlike the caravels, which fell into disuse, the naos and carracks underwent greater improvements and transformations, until they became a new type of vessel, known as a galleon, of which there were different variants, such as the Spanish galleon and the English galleon.

Sometimes the carracas, or any ship, were called naos, using the expression nao in its general sense of ship or vessel. But naos were also a specific type of ship.

Although the hull was very similar in shape, that of the carracas was reinforced with straps and external wooden bularcamas; not the one on the ships.

The bow and stern castles were larger in the carracas than in the naos.

The ships only had a lateen sail on the mizzen, and only had foremast and maintops. The size of the three masts of the naos was not as different as in the carracas.

The tonnage of the ships varied between 100 and 500 tons. The smaller ones were exploration ships, and the larger ones were cargo or war ships.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages, especially from the 19th century onwards, the carracks and ships had already incorporated more masts, more sails, including lateen sails, which, combined with their resistance and carrying capacity, made them the workhorse of maritime trade routes, serving from Iceland in the north, the Azores in the west and the African coasts, even the Indian Ocean in the south. It can be argued that at this point, Europe as a whole had achieved world supremacy in shipbuilding.