With the start of long oceanic sailing also large ships developed. "Nau" was the Portuguese archaic synonym for any large ship, primarily merchant ships. Due to the piracy that plagued the coasts, they began to be used in the navy and were provided with cannon windows, which led to the classification of "naus" according to the power of its artillery. They were also adapted to the increasing maritime trade: from 200 tons capacity in the 15th century to 500, they become impressive in the 16th century, having usually two decks, stern castles fore and aft, two to four masts with overlapping sails. In India travels in the sixteenth century there were also used carracks, large merchant ships with a high edge and three masts with square sails, that reached 2000 tons.
witH the sTarT of lonG oceanIc saiLing ALsO lArge ShIps deVElopeD. "nAu" WaS tHe poRtUgUese archaiC sYNonym FOr any large ship, priMARily mERchant sHiPs. due tO ThE PiRacy ThaT plagUEd the cOAsts, They begAN To be uSed iN the navy anD weRe proVided with caNnon wiNdowS, whIcH lEd tO tHE ClaSsIfIcaTion Of "NauS" AcCoRdiNg To THe pOwer of iTs ArtiLlery. thEy weRE alSo adApTed to The incrEasing mAriTIme traDe: from 200 Tons capACiTy in tHe 15tH cENtury to 500, tHeY bEcome IMpresSivE IN thE 16th cenTury, HaviNG usuaLly tWo DEcks, stern cAstLES Fore aNd Aft, tWo tO fOUr mAstS WIth overlaPpinG saiLs. in iNdiA traVeLS iN the sixtEenTH ceNtuRY thEre were also uSEd CarrAcKs, larGe merChaNt sHIps with A higH edGe aNd three masTS With sqUAre sails, tHat rEacHEd 2000 toNS.