Which of the following is true of the lateen sail?
A) It ushered in the age of discovery by allowing sailors to point the bow of the boat in the desired direction.
B) It kept ships from sliding sideways when moving across the wind, thus eliminating the need for oars.
C) It made ships more maneuverable, thus allowing merchants to sail out of the Mediterranean and north around the European coast.
D) It hampered sea trade by making ships much more difficult to maneuver.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lateen sail made ships more maneuverable, which allowed merchants to sail out of the Mediterranean and north around the European coast. This led to an expansion of sea trade and facilitated the age of discovery. The other choices are incorrect: A is incorrect because pointing the bow of the boat in the desired direction requires a rudder, which was already in use before the lateen sail; B is incorrect because the lateen sail did not eliminate the need for oars, and ships still needed to use oars for propulsion; D is incorrect because the lateen sail actually made ships more maneuverable, as mentioned earlier.

Which of the Following Is True of the Lateen Sail