The significance of longitude extended far beyond the seas from "summary" of Longitude by Dava Sobel
Longitude, a concept once reserved for seafarers, has proven to have far-reaching implications beyond the realm of the open ocean. While the challenge of determining longitude at sea was a matter of life and death for sailors navigating treacherous waters, its importance extended beyond the confines of maritime exploration. The ability to accurately measure longitude had profound implications for commerce, politics, and even the spread of scientific knowledge. The quest for a reliable method of determining longitude was not merely a technical problem to be solved by inventors and astronomers; it was a pressing issue that had the potential to shape the course of history. Without an accurate means of establishing longitude, nations were limited in their ability to expand their empires, trade routes were perilous and uncertain, and scientific discoveries were hindered by the lack of precise geographical data. The search for a solution to the longitude problem was not just a scientific endeavor; it was a race against time, with nations vying for supremacy on the high seas and the vast riches that lay beyond the horizon. The Longitude Prize, a ...
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