Thesis statement: Compass – an ingenious device that indicates the four cardinal directions – is considered to be one of the four great inventions of China. It became widespread in the rest of the world soon enough and gained an enormous significance in the life of seafarers and travelers. Various types of compasses have been developed throughout history, but its purpose and effectiveness have never changed. Compasses are still widely used all over the world, being integrated in navigation systems and leading the way of travelers.
Could we possibly live without the compass? It is a device so ingenious and yet so simple that it is hard to imagine how people used to manage without it. Everywhere where there is movement, travel, voyage, and exploration, compasses of various kinds make our lives so much easier.
One might be surprised to find out that the first compasses, or at least the first devices which had functions similar to theirs, were invented not for indicating direction, but for the Feng Shui practices of the ancient Chinese around II century BC. It was believed to be a necessary tool for finding the balance of the power of the Earth and aligning oneself with it. A romantic start, isn’t it? These first compass devices had but little similarity with the high-tech electronic ones that are in use at present. Nevertheless, the true potential of the compass was yet to be discovered, and the small pieces of magnetic lodestone used for geomancy and divination had a fascinating history unfolding in front of them.
Not until the IX century AD the compass started to evolve into the devices we are more familiar with – this is when the history of the compass as we know it begins. Unfortunately, it is difficult to define the exact dates, and many scholars still argue on the issue. The first undisputable mention of a “mysterious needle” which could point directly to the south can be found in a 1088 book of the scientist Shen Kuo, named The Dream Pool Essays. Such a needle was apparently placed in a bowl filled with water, after being polished with a lodestone. Obviously, this enigmatic ability could not remain unnoticed by the seafarers who were constantly seeking for better ways to find direction in the sea. Along with orientation by the orbs, which was practically the only way to tell direction by that time, the small magnetic needle became a valuable tool of the sailors.
It is difficult to tell how compass made its way from China to Europe. Or, maybe, it did not come from China at all, but was invented independently in Europe, as some researchers claim? There is little evidence supporting both of the theories, and perhaps, we might never be able find out the truth. One thing we know for sure is that, one way or another, the compass appeared in Europe around XII century AD, being first mentioned in the works by Alexander Neckam. Starting from that period the compass became …