Cartography and Navigation in the Age of Exploration

During the Age of Exploration, cartography and navigation were vital for discovering new lands and sea routes. Cartography involved creating maps that depicted coastlines, islands, and routes, helping explorers understand unfamiliar areas. Navigation used tools like compasses, astrolabes, and eventually sextants, to determine a ship’s position at sea by measuring stars or the sun. Accurate maps and reliable navigation techniques allowed sailors to venture farther, reducing the risks of drifting off course and enabling global exploration. These advancements transformed exploration from guesswork into strategic planning, opening new worlds and connecting distant continents.