Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Have you ever noticed a strange device that will be printed on most, if not all nautical maps? That item is called the ‘compass rose’ and is vital to the sailors for a long time, but it wasn’t always a compass rose. Sometime in the 1300 to 1400s it was called the ‘wind rose’ because the wind’s direction was vital to sailing ships and their navigation.

At that time, most of the maritime commerce was done in the Mediterranean or in other parts of the world close to shore. If ships captains ventured very far into the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans, they might not ever be heard from again.

There were some claims that the compass was discovered in European countries, but those were claiming a discovery that originated in China. There for some strange reason it was discovered that no matter at what position a stone ladle was left in any position in a pot, the next morning it would have moved to another position. This was the effect of a lode stone ladle being affected by the magnetic north. This was then the beginning of a true compass. The Chinese were probably the first to launch out into the big oceans, and the compass as we know it today became know to European sailors. That cause a change of the wind rose to one of the compass rose!

Ancient western civilization’s commerce with foreign countries was mostly carried on in the Medeterranian ocean. In the winter the prevailing winds were from the East and in the summer the prevailing winds was from the West. Thus, the use of the wind rose preceded the Compass Rose. Today in this age, we have Global Positioning Satellites, GPS instruments that guide us even more accurately from satellites in orbit around the Earth. Just Sayin…RJS

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Great piece of info. Interesting how things have come about.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Good background story on the compass! I like modern electronics, GPS, etc., but there is something "alluring" to me about using a compass to navigate while on the water. It could be tied in to the enjoyment I get out of using paper maps....

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yes, I have always loved maps. With a vivid imagination you can travel all the world over. When growing up, we had a branch of the County Library in our home. One of the periodicals was National Geographic and on occassion there would be a map of some continent or country. I save those and spent hours going over the details. Just Sayin...RJS

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yep, I loved my Garmin GPS. Once I was out early in West Galveston bay and suddenly a fog bank rolled in and I was socked in completely and could not get my bearings. I resorted to the directions on my GPS screen and was able to get back to the Ship Channel and safety.

I have tested my instrument and found that from as far as seven miles away it would put me right on top of a reef that was about 3 feet underwater. Not near, but right on top!

Also, the Garmin would leave 'bread crum' trails of every trip. So even at night with only running lights on, I could navigate in shallow water full of oyster reefs. Just Sayin....RJS

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, having a compass wasn't the only thing necessary for the complete navigator. there had to be a trustworthy and reliable clock in order to navigate the worlds largest oceans. There was a big cash prize waiting in England for the person who built a clock that could stand the rigors of the ocean and keep accurate time. This was to determine the longitude. DeSalle, the French explorer over shot and missed the Mississippi river and wound up on the middle coast of Texas for the lack of a reliable navigation system. Just Sayin...RJS

Possum2 Loc: South Mississippi

A good gps would have been real helpful those years ago when I still coon hunted. I would have actually been able to get back to my truck with out wondering all over the river bottom all night. Use it now to get back to the boat ramp after dark.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

I agree. When I went to Brazil to fish in the Amazon, our twin engine aircraft was to take us from Manaus, up the river further West, there on the console between the pilot an co-pilot was a small, hand held Garman GPS. it was taped on the instrument panel. Instrument far ahead of the plane's electronics. Just Sayin....RJS

Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC

Since I was in the boy scouts, one of our merit badges was to be proficiently able to find our way from one area to another by the use of a compass, if we were lost at night, we looked for the North Star and that give us our bearing to know where we needed to head toward to go north and then we knew if we needed to go south they head into the directions away from it we would find our Southern destination and so we had our north south east and west. My dad had a keen sense that's North that's South and that's West ever since I was a little kid so you know when you get lost on a map, Just step out of the car and find wherever the moon is coming up are the sun is setting and go up I need to go east head to Dallas. Now just pull up MapQuest and tell the little computer where you want to go and have some lady tell you every turn till you pull into the driveway, but what if you're in a situation where none of that stuff works your batteries are dead and you're stuck there with nothing but the stars and the Sun and the Moon and such things to find your way home. It don't hurt to hang on to a little bit of that boy scout learning.

Sport Loc: Sacramento county north. California

Hi Robert, in 2003 a 5000 year old Chinese reed boat was found in the Sacramento Delta. West coast America. I guess they got lost. The short news story disappeared quickly. I can't find a referance for it. I bet sailors from everywhere crossed the globe well before recorded history.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Hello Sport! Yes, I have read several books about the Chinese exploration of all seven seas. They, due to the cost, decided there wasn't anything they needed anywhere in the world and stopped their navies from sailing due to the cost.

The Industrial Revolution bypassed China an allowed the western world to move ahead. However, there are many, many dicoveries that China can claim, and the ideas finally emerged in the West.

There was a Cambridge professor that during WW II, helped Chinese professors salvage copies of ideas, and other valauable document out ahead of the Japanese offensive, finally stopping them at the Yangze River with the Flying Tigers! This Cambridge Don thought he had enough for a single encyclopedia of their investions. They are up to over 21 and have not finished! Amazing. I decided I would try and buy one copy, but when I discovered the cost was around $300, I declined. Just Sayin...RJS

Sport Loc: Sacramento county north. California

Thank you Robert, I read of ancient copper mines in Michigan that must have been bronze age europreans. They didn't plant a flag and name a day after themselves.