The search for longitude reshaped our understanding of time from "summary" of Longitude by Dava Sobel
The quest to determine longitude at sea consumed the world's finest minds for centuries. It was a monumental challenge that required not only technological innovation but also a fundamental shift in how time was understood and measured. The prevailing belief was that time was fixed and unchanging, but the search for longitude revealed that time was, in fact, relative and variable. As sailors ventured further into the unknown, it became increasingly clear that accurate timekeeping was crucial for determining longitude. Without a reliable method for keeping time, ships could easily become lost at sea, leading to disastrous consequences. This realization sparked a revolution in the field of horology, as clockmakers raced to create timepieces that could withstand the rigors of life at sea. The development of accurate marine chron...
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