The Carrack: How Spain's Nao Changed the World

In episode 59 of The Story of Spain, Lucas and Luna explore the unsung workhorse of the Spanish Empire: the nao, or carrack. While galleons get the glory, it was the bulky, high-sided nao that carried silver from Potosí, silk from Manila, and settlers to the Americas. Lucas explains how the nao evolved from the Mediterranean cog, its revolutionary round-trip design (the tornaviaje), and the brutal conditions aboard. He shares the story of the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción — the 'Sea Grape' — whose 1641 shipwreck off the Dominican Republic is still being excavated. The episode touches on the Casa de Contratación in Seville, which regulated every voyage, and the tragedy of the 1622 Tierra Firme fleet, including the Atocha. Lucas also reveals how the nao's design influenced shipbuilding worldwide, from the Portuguese carraca to the English galleon. A tribute to the vessel that made global empire possible, but whose name is largely forgotten. #Spain #History #FexingoHistory #Nao #Carrack #Shipwreck #ManilaGalleon #Atocha #NuestraSeñoradeLaConcepción #Tornaviaje #CasaDeContratación #Seville #SilverFleet #AgeOfSail #MaritimeHistory #SpanishEmpire #Shipbuilding #Caribbean Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo