The galleon was an armed merchant ship during the era of Spanish exploration and trade (1565 to 1815).
Galleons were first built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Their main use was as warships, and many countries, like Spain, also used them on New World explorations to defend the treasure they had captured and on trading voyages.
The full galleon
These large ships had at least three masts with multiple sails and were much faster than earlier warships that had been rowed. Galleons were made from oak, a strong, hard wood that lasted a long time. It took more than 2,000 trees to make some of the larger galleons. The average weight of a galleon was 400 tons, the weight of two jumbo jets. Being so heavy, the galleon traveled at around 4 to 8 knots, or 41/2 to 9 miles per hour. Most people walk about this fast!
The galleons were thisbig in order to move large amounts of supplies and goods, as well as a large number of people. A galleon could carry 100 sailors and passengers. The galleons were well protected, usually carrying between 20 and 40 cannons and guns.
Life was hard and dangerous on these ships, space was cramped, the food bad, everything smelled, and the work was never done.
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