The Riddle of the Compass: The Invention that Changed the World
by Aczel, Amir D
- Used
- as new
- Paperback
- Condition
- As New
- ISBN 10
- 0156007533
- ISBN 13
- 9780156007535
- Seller
-
Georgetown, Texas, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Synopsis
Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time. Certainly the mariners in Amalfi in the twelfth century were. Here the compass was first invented and used in navigation, eventually helping to make Italians the world's greatest sailors. But the story of the compass is shrouded in mystery and myth. It begins in ancient China around the birth of Christ. A mysterious lodestone whose powers affected metal was known to the Emperor. This piece of metal suspended in water always pointed north and was put to excellent use in feng shui, the Chinese art of finding the right location. However, it was the Italians who unleashed the compass's formidable powers on ships at sea. Throughout the ancient world, sailors navigated by wind, and stars, and the routes of migrating birds, but bad weather and winter storms impeded their travels. When the compass migrated to Italy, the modern world began: Venice, trade with the East, the Age of Discovery. The compass made it all possible, and this is its fascinating story.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Storbeck's (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 604128
- Title
- The Riddle of the Compass: The Invention that Changed the World
- Author
- Aczel, Amir D
- Format/Binding
- Trade Paperback
- Book Condition
- New As New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0156007533
- ISBN 13
- 9780156007535
- Publisher
- Harvest Books
- Place of Publication
- San Diego, CA
- Date Published
- 2002
- Keywords
- SCIENCE
- Bookseller catalogs
- Science;
Terms of Sale
Storbeck's
Storbeck's accepts payment by Mastercard, Visa, American Excpress, Discover, PayPal, check or moneyorder. 8.25% sales tax on orders shipped to Texas.
About the Seller
Storbeck's
About Storbeck's
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Trade Paperback
- Used to indicate any paperback book that is larger than a mass-market paperback and is often more similar in size to a hardcover...