<P> Until the 15th century, Europeans were limited to coastal navigation using the barge or the balinger (barinel), ancient cargo vessels of the Mediterranean Sea with a capacity of around 50 to 200 tons . These boats were fragile, with only one mast with a fixed square sail that could not overcome the navigational difficulties of southward oceanic exploration, as the strong winds, shoals and strong ocean currents easily overwhelmed their abilities . </P> <P> The caravel was developed in about 1451, based on existing fishing boats under the sponsorship of Henry the Navigator of Portugal, and soon became the preferred vessel for Portuguese explorers like Diogo Cão, Bartolomeu Dias or Gaspar and Miguel Corte - Real, and by Christopher Columbus . Its name may derive from an ancient boat type known as carabus in Latin and καραβος in Greek, later adopted into Arabic as qārib, indicating some continuity of its carvel build through the ages . They were agile and easier to navigate than the barca and barinel, with a tonnage of 50 to 160 tons and 1 to 3 masts, with lateen triangular sails allowing beating . </P> <P> Being smaller and having a shallow keel, the caravel could sail upriver in shallow coastal waters . With the lateen sails attached, it was highly maneuverable and could sail much nearer the shore, while with the square Atlantic - type sails attached, it was very fast . Its economy, speed, agility, and power made it esteemed as the best sailing vessel of its time . The limited capacity for cargo and crew were their main drawbacks, but did not hinder its success . </P> <P> The exploration done with caravels made the spice trade of the Portuguese and the Spanish possible . However, for the trade itself, the caravel was later replaced by the larger carrack (nau), which was more profitable for trading . The caravel was one of the pinnacle ships in Iberian ship development from 1400--1600 . </P>

What are two ways the caravel was different from other boats of its time
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