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Nautical Techniques
The invention of navigation by the stars made the Discoveries possible.
Years: 1450 — 1543
The predominant winds and currents of the Atlantic implied – from the mid-15th century on – the need to navigate far from the coast. This motivated the invention of navigation by the stars, permitting knowledge of the approximate location of a vessel on the high seas. For this purpose, observation instruments were adapted, such as the nautical quadrant and astrolabe or the cross-staff.
These allowed calculation of the height of a star above the horizon so as to compute the latitude of the point at which the observation took place. The navigators established their routes with the aid of these instruments, together with compasses, sea-cards, and publications such as nautical guides containing rules of astronomic navigation, solar distance charts, and elements of cosmography.
Aside from these, they also had “roteiros” (pilot books), practical experiences about voyages and other similar writings, namely rules about navigation maneuvers and logbooks. All these elements were sometimes assembled in books referenced today as “books of seamanship”.
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