The compass was first invented in China around the 2nd century BCE. Chinese inventors discovered magnetic stones called lodestones and noticed that these stones always pointed north. The earliest compasses were made from these magnetic stones floating on the surface of water. Over time, these stones became more portable and practical, leading to widespread use in both maritime and land expeditions.

In the 12th century, the compass spread to Europe through Arab traders. In Europe, the use of the compass revolutionized navigation. The widespread adoption of the compass enabled significant discoveries and the expansion of the world map. From the Middle Ages onwards, sailors began using the compass to navigate their ships, allowing them to travel more safely across open seas.

How it’s works

The compass works as a navigation tool by taking advantage of Earth’s magnetic field. Inside the compass, there is a magnetic needle that can rotate freely. This needle aligns with Earth’s magnetic poles, always pointing north-south.

Magnetic Needle: The most important part of the compass is the magnetic needle, made from magnetic materials and able to rotate freely. One end of the needle points north, and the other end points south.

Compass Rose: The compass has a circle marked with directions and degree indicators, known as the compass rose. The compass rose helps the user determine a specific direction more precisely.

Earth’s Magnetic Field: Earth acts like a giant magnet, creating a magnetic field around it. The magnetic north pole is located near the geographic north pole. The magnetic needle aligns with Earth’s magnetic field to find the north-south direction.

Thanks to this simple yet effective working principle, the compass has been used by people for thousands of years. Even today, despite modern technologies, the compass remains an important navigation tool.