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Compass Use in Song Navigation

Type Event Region China Time 1205

Around 1205 CE, compass navigation became widespread in Song coastal seafaring, stabilizing trade links with Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean and …

Timeline

  1. 1205Port of Quanzhou · Fujian ProvinceSouthern Song coastal merchant ships were commonly equipped with water-floating compasses; crews determined course by the needle, compensating for the lack of star observation on cloudy nights and improving sailing safety.
  2. 1205–1210South China Sea–Indian Ocean route · Indian OceanRelying on magnetic needle navigation, Song fleets sailed from the South China Sea to Champa, Java, and more distant Indian Ocean ports, with trade in porcelain, silk, and spices steadily expanding.

Sources