Navigating at Sea

Instruments to find and keep time revolutionized the way mariners crossed the oceans.

In 1700, Europe’s mariners and mapmakers knew only about half the Earth’s surface with any detail. Rival nations were exploring the seas in search of greater wealth, power, and prestige. But uncharted seas were dangerous. To make ocean travel safer and faster, people had to develop better maps, better navigation tools and techniques, and better clocks.