It is theorized that the Olmec tribe of Central America fashioned the first rudimentary compass in 1000 BC, which was a lodestone that may have been used for religious purposes, since their temples were often aligned with celestial bodies. China, however, is labeled as the first place where the first compass was created, in 1044. Compasses were then adopted by Europeans, whose sailors were able to put them to use to help them navigate better. In this way, the compass directly contributed to the Age of Discovery. Various types of compasses were made as time went on, but even modern compasses have not changed much. Today they are equipped in ships and airplanes and can be carried around for personal use.
There are two major types of compasses: the dry compass and the bearing compass. The dry compass consists of a magnetized needle that will pivot in order to show the direction or course that a ship or person is taking. They were invented in Europe in 1300 and are still used. The bearing compass uses a prism or mirror in order to allow the person looking at it to take headings and measurements of geographic locations. They were in use in the 18th century and also are still used today.
Compasses function by relying on the natural magnetism of the Earth's poles and their own magnetic traits. In most compasses, there is a magnetized needle that is attached to a dial so that it can move freely in a circle. There are stationary bearings written on the compass so that they can be lined up with the way the needle is pointing. The needle itself is attracted by the magnetic pull of the North Pole, so it will always point north. By looking at which way the needle is pointing, navigators can figure out what direction they are facing.
Compasses are an important too for any traveler, explorer or navigator. Without them, it is very easy to get lost, and if explorers never had them, the discovery of many parts of the world likely would have been delayed. While modern navigation systems that use GPS are great tools, the compass will never go out of style because they are light, easy to carry and do not run on batteries or electricity, making them easy to use just about anywhere.
While compasses are simple to use and very handy, it is important to understand that they may need correction. If they are used in areas with lots of metal, they are going to point in a direction that is not the true north because of the metal's magnetic pull. It is important to understand this, because if the correct measurements are not taken, it will be easy for a person to get off course. There is a compass calibration chart that can be used, and that is installed on many ships equipped with compasses in order to compensate for magnetic deviation.
