The Magnetic Compass
First built for divination; it guided ocean navigation only ~1,300 years later, in Song China.
Explore this event on the interactive timeline →Invented in China during the Han Dynasty, the first compasses were made of lodestone, a naturally magnetized ore of iron. They were originally used for geomancy and fortune-telling (Feng Shui) before being adapted for maritime navigation in the 11th century.
Verified Facts
- Early Chinese compasses took the shape of a polished magnetic spoon spinning on a flat bronze plate.
- Before the compass, sailors had to strictly navigate by landmarks, the position of the sun, and the stars. If it was a cloudy day out on the open ocean, you were completely lost.
- The compass eventually made its way to Europe, enabling the Age of Discovery and the mapping of the entire globe.