Why was ocean travel so dangerous between 1300 and 1500?

There were several factors that made ocean travel dangerous between 1300 and 1500:

1. Lack of accurate navigation instruments: Ships during this time primarily relied on rudimentary navigation methods such as dead reckoning, which involved estimating position based on the ship's speed and direction. This method was prone to errors and made it difficult for sailors to determine their exact location at sea.

2. Limited ship design and technology: Ships in the 14th and 15th centuries were relatively small and not well-equipped to withstand rough seas. They were often constructed using traditional methods without proper understanding of hydrodynamics, making them unstable and vulnerable to sinking.

3. Unpredictable weather and storms: The oceans were largely uncharted, and sailors had limited knowledge of weather patterns and storm systems. Sudden storms and extreme weather conditions posed a significant threat to ships, often leading to shipwrecks.

4. Uncharted waters and hidden dangers: During this period, many ocean routes were unexplored, and sailors ventured into uncharted territories with limited information about potential hazards such as shallows, reefs, and hidden obstacles. Lack of accurate maps and knowledge of coastal features increased the risk of running aground and shipwrecks.

5. Piracy and maritime warfare: Ocean travel was plagued by piracy and frequent conflicts between rival powers. Pirates would attack and board merchant ships, leading to loss of life, theft of cargo, and disruption of trade routes.

6. Limited medical knowledge and outbreaks of diseases: Medical understanding was limited during this time, and sailors often fell victim to epidemics on long voyages. Poor sanitation, close quarters, and lack of knowledge about hygiene caused diseases such as scurvy, smallpox, and typhus to spread rapidly, decimating ship crews.

7. Long voyage durations: Ocean voyages could last several months or even years, exposing sailors to prolonged periods of exposure to harsh weather conditions, disease, and limited food and water supplies.

Due to these factors, ocean travel between 1300 and 1500 was a perilous endeavor, with a high chance of accidents, shipwrecks, and loss of life. Improvements in navigation technology, ship design, medical knowledge, and charting of ocean routes would gradually make ocean travel safer in the centuries that followed.