Ancient Oceanic Navigation: A Global Overview

Polynesians began voyaging across the Pacific around ______ from Southeast Asia. (Fill in the blank)

• 1500 BC

• 500 AD

• 3000 BC

• 1000 AD

Which of the following tools and cues were used by Polynesian navigators?

• Sun and Moon

• Stars and planets

• Ocean swells

• All of the above

What did Polynesian navigators use to estimate south when navigating south of the equator?

• Southern Cross (Navi)

• Big Dipper (Ursa Major)

• Polaris (North Star)

• Orion's Belt

Vikings navigated to Iceland, Greenland, and even North America by 900–1000 AD.

• True

• False

What did Vikings use to detect the sun’s direction through cloud cover or twilight?

• Sunstones (Icelandic spar)

• Magnetic compasses

• Animal bones

• Smoke signals

The Kamal, used by Arab navigators, is best described as:

• A magnetic compass

• A wooden rectangle on a knotted string

• A floating container

• A brass disc

Who invented the Cross Staff used for navigation in the 14th century?

• Zheng He

• Levi ben Gershon

• Polynesian priests

• Viking sailors

The Mariner’s Astrolabe was used to measure star/sun angles without needing a visible horizon.

• True

• False

The magnetic compass was first used for divination in the ______.

• 3rd century BCE

• 5th century CE

• 1st century BCE

• 7th century CE

Zheng He’s fleet in the 15th century adapted the compass for navigation.

• True

• False