Here are some of the many important technical breakthroughs that aided spark the period of Discovery.

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Source: Matt Gibson/TwitterAnother an extremely important technical innovation the the period was the traverse board. This relatively simple maker helped ships, favor Caravals, remain on monitor on long voyages.

It was, in effect, a type of beforehand computer and also helped store things organized on the ship. Utilizing it, sailors throughout the age of Exploration can record the speed of your ship and the direction in i m sorry it had actually traveled end a given duration of time.


This device was, to put it mildly, a priceless piece of kit to at an early stage explorers and sailors.

3. The galleon was a behemoth the the seas

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Modern ship"s compass, Source: pearl & Seas/TwitterThe magnetic compass and also rose were additionally incredibly important inventions that aided spark the period of Exploration. Consisting of a magnetized needle, compasses noted sailors through an amazingly powerful navigational aid.


By providing a reliable method to uncover "magnetic north", this amazing maker is assumed to have first been arisen in China roughly the 11th century.

The prominence of this reasonably simple an equipment to this period of background cannot yes, really be understated.

5. The pintle-and-gudgeon stern-mounted rudder was another important invention

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Source: Markus Neilbock/Wikimedia CommonsThe Ka-Mal, or kamal, is yet another important technological innovation that aided kick turn off the age of Discovery. Consists of a piece of wood and a item of string, this device was supplied to estimate a vessel"s latitude at sea.


First thought to have been arisen by Arab seafarers in the 9th-century, this is the very first device well-known used to estimate one"s latitude.

The human using it would line up the horizon through the bottom of the an equipment and then sight Polaris utilizing the various other end. Once everything lined up perfectly, the user could calculate the approximate place of the ship.

This simple maker was, for a time, one invaluable tool in many a long-voyage sailor"s tool kits till it was superseded through the cross-staff.

7. The cross-staff at some point replaced the kamal

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Source: Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio/Wikimedia CommonsAnother critically important technical tool because that the age of expedition was the lead line. Additionally known as a sound line, it consisted of heavy lead weight on a length of rope, this very simple maker was supplied to take depth recordings that the ocean floor.

This was vital information together it aided sailors identify the form of ocean they were at this time sailing over and ensure the ship wouldn"t become beached, or worse, wrecked ~ above reef or submarine rock outcrop.


It could additionally be used, through modification, to take samples native the seabed.

9. Timekeeping gadgets were vital for navigation

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Source: tin/TwitterAnd finally, other critical pre-requisites because that the period of exploration weretimekeeping devices. Not just were they provided to help keep things in order on deck, however they to be also an essential for calculating the speed at i beg your pardon a ship was traveling in ~ a offered moment.

This information is of crucial importance for navigational purposes, and also even an easy sand hourglass devices were provided initially. As mechanical clocks became much more widespread in the direction of the finish of the middle ages, they would certainly be used on numerous ships throughout the period of Discovery.

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Without any of these an excellent technological innovations ever before being developed, the momentous events of the age of exploration may never have actually occurred. Or, simply perhaps, castle simply accelerated the inevitable.