Portuguese navy in Gibraltar in the 15th and 16th centuries

Portugal became an overseas empire in 1415 by conquering the Ceuta. After conquering the Ceuta, they were sent seafarers and traders as far as Indian Ocean, setting up port towns at the coast regions of North Africa. The greatest contribution to Portugal's maritime progress was provided by Prince Henrique, who received the support of the state and the nobles, known his sobriquet as the "sailor prince". He rallied Andalusian scholars and Italian sailors to improving shipbuilding techniques, they built gigantic ships which could sail to overseas and resistance to sailing on oceanic conditions. The Portuguese kings, who supported the progress in maritime affairs after Prince Henrique, had succeed to establish "Portuguese Naval Empire" in Indian Ocean and had obtained a wide trade network. This study which evaluated the ships in the Portuguese navy, which emerged with the contributions of Italian and Arab sailors to the ship's technology and as a result of the sailing from Atlantic as far as Indian Ocean, leaving deep traces to World's maritime history which begining with the conquering of Ceuta and continuing throughout the Age of Discovery is examines Portuguese naval power in the 15th and 16th centuries. Keywords: Portuguese Navy, Gharb Al- Andalus, Reconquest of Portugal, Ceuta, Prince Henrique.