Navigation and Seafaring

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Learn about ancient maritime technology and the skills required to navigate the open seas, from Phoenician shipbuilding to Polynesian star navigation.

Latitude and Longitude: Understanding the basics of how to locate a position on Earth using latitude and longitude.
Map reading: Learning how to read a map and the various symbols, abbreviations, and scales that are used.
Navigation tools: Knowledge of basic navigation tools such as compass, sextant, GPS, and radio beacons.
Nautical charts: Understanding how to read and use nautical charts to navigate in both coastal and off-shore waters.
Tides and currents: Understanding the effects of tides and currents on navigation, and how to use this information in route planning.
Weather forecasting: Gaining knowledge of how to interpret weather forecasting reports and how weather can impact navigation.
Sailing techniques: Learning the different sailing techniques used to navigate effectively in various weather conditions.
Knot-tying: Knowledge of basic knot-tying techniques for securing lines and sails on a boat.
Maritime laws and regulations: Understanding the maritime laws and regulations that govern seafaring and navigation, including safety and environmental regulations.
Maritime history: Learning about the history of seafaring and navigation, including the development of ancient navigation techniques and the history of voyages and explorations.
Marine ecology: Understanding the importance of marine ecosystems and the impact of human activity on the ocean environment.
Navigation safety: Knowledge of safety procedures, including emergency protocols and navigation best practices.
Celestial Navigation: The use of the stars, sun, and moon to determine a ship's position.
Dead Reckoning Navigation: Using the ship’s course, speed, and estimated distance traveled to calculate the best guess for a navigational position.
Coastal Navigation: Navigating along the coast using landmarks such as lighthouses and buoy markers.
Piloting: Using physical landmarks to navigate in shallow waters.
GPS Navigation: Modern navigational system that uses satellites to determine a ship's exact location.
Magnetometric Navigation: Using earth's magnetic field to determine direction and position.
Radio Navigation: Using radio frequency signals to calculate position.
Sonar Navigation: Using sound waves to determine underwater depths and any obstacles in the way.
Radar Navigation: Using radio waves to detect the presence and location of other ships or landmasses.
Inertial Navigation: A navigation system that measures a ship's acceleration and rotation, and computes its position relative to its starting point.
- "Maritime history is the study of human interaction with and activity at sea."
- "It covers a broad thematic element of history that often uses a global approach." - "Maritime history is the broad overarching subject that includes fishing, whaling, international maritime law, naval history, the history of ships, ship design, shipbuilding, etc."
- "Nautical history records and interprets past events involving ships, shipping, navigation, and seafarers."
- "It often crosses the boundaries of standard disciplines, focusing on understanding humankind's various relationships to the oceans, seas, and major waterways of the globe."
- "Fishing, whaling, international maritime law, naval history, the history of ships, ship design, shipbuilding, the history of navigation, the history of the various maritime-related sciences..." - "Maritime economics and trade, shipping, yachting, seaside resorts, the history of lighthouses and aids to navigation, maritime themes in literature, maritime themes in art..."
- "Utilitarians... seek to influence policy makers and a wider audience."
- "Traditionalists" and "Utilitarians" - "Traditionalists... seek to engage a small audience of other academics." - "Utilitarians... seek to influence policy makers and a wider audience."
- "Maritime history is the broad overarching subject that includes shipping."
- "Maritime history is the broad overarching subject that includes sea exploration."
- "The history of the various maritime-related sciences (oceanography, cartography, hydrography, etc.)"
- "The social history of sailors and passengers and sea-related communities."
- "As an academic subject, it often crosses the boundaries of standard disciplines, focusing on understanding humankind's various relationships to the oceans, seas, and major waterways of the globe."
- "The history of ships, ship design, shipbuilding"
- "Maritime themes in literature, maritime themes in art"
- "The history of navigation"
- "Maritime economics and trade"
- "The history of lighthouses and aids to navigation"
- "It covers a broad thematic element of history, including fishing, whaling, shipbuilding, navigation, etc."
- "Traditionalists... seek to engage a small audience of other academics."
- "It covers a broad thematic element of history that often uses a global approach, although national and regional histories remain predominant."