How Did Ancient Civilizations Navigate the Seas Without GPS?

Long ago, people traveled across the ocean without GPS, they used the stars, the sun, and even waves to find their way. Like a compass in the sky, the North Star helped sailors know which direction to go at night. During the day, the sun told them where east and west were. By watching how waves hit the ship, they could figure out if they were going straight or drifting off course. It was like having a magic map made of light and water.

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Examples

  1. A sailor at night looks up and sees the North Star, knowing it means they’re heading north.
  2. During the day, a ship follows the sun rising from one side to the other like a clock.
  3. A wave hits the boat from the left, the sailor knows they’ve drifted right.

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