square rigged vessels cannot make way upwind; they are limited to approximately 60 degrees either side of the wind, and would have terrible sailing characteristics in this position that would push them downwind to the level that they could probably not travel a true course within even 90 degrees of the wind.

lateen (think dhow) sails were around from about 200 bc but only became widespread later. They are more efficient efficient upwind and permit a boat to point close enough to the wind to move a meaningful distance "upwind"