a. Shipbuilding:
- Portuguese shipyards built sturdy and more advanced vessels such as the nau and caravel. These ships had lateen sails, allowing them to tack against the wind, giving them a significant advantage in navigation and maneuverability.
- They could sail closer to the wind and make long-distance voyages at sea. The Arabs primarily used traditional dhows and galleys.
b. Navigation Instruments:
- Portuguese sailors used advanced navigational instruments such as the astrolabe, quadrant, and compass, which enabled them to accurately chart their course and navigate the open seas effectively.
2. Strategic Alliances:
- The Portuguese established strategic alliances with local rulers, such as the Zamorin of Calicut on the Malabar Coast.
- By gaining access to trade hubs and ports, they disrupted Arab trade networks and limited their influence.
3. Military Prowess:
a. Artillery and Firearms:
- Portuguese ships were heavily armed with cannons and other artillery, providing a significant advantage in naval warfare.
b. Naval Tactics and Training:
- Portuguese sailors were highly trained and disciplined, using innovative tactics like cross-fire and concentrated firepower.
4. Trading Posts and Forts:
- The Portuguese established a series of trading posts and forts along the coast of Africa, India, and the East Indies.
- These outposts allowed them to control key trade routes and limit the mobility and influence of Arab merchants.
5. Diplomatic Strategies:
- Portuguese explorers, such as Vasco da Gama, used a mixture of diplomacy and coercion to negotiate trade agreements and undermine the power of Arab rulers in the region.
- This included threatening to form alliances with their rivals or blockading ports.
6. Decline of Arab Naval Power:
- Internal political conflicts and economic challenges weakened the Arab states of the time, especially the Mamluk Sultanate and the Ottoman Empire.
- This made them less able to resist the Portuguese incursions.