Solid Brass Gimble Compass w/ Rosewood Box 6"

Following the dispersion of the marine compass throughout Europe, and combined with new articles such as Portolan Charts and advances in shipbuilding, the Age of Discovery began. From the early 15^th century, through the 17^th century, European powers expanded across the globe making extended contacts with Africa and Asia, and the first contact with the Americas since early Norse expeditions. Using the nautical compass and the directional winds, Christopher Columbus made voyages through the Caribbean, Central America, and back through the North Atlantic, and in doing so not only vastly expanded knowledge and trade but lent his discoveries to improving compass marine sailing itself. On September 13, 1492, Columbus documented his discovery that with magnetic compass marine sailing, the compass does not in fact point “true to the pole.” Depending on where you are, with regards to latitude, the compass direction would vary by a number of degrees. With this writing, as well as previous findings on the Earth’s magnetic field, magnetic charts were created, and improved upon, which made navigation and compass marine sailing more accurate.