Keywords
Nautical Chart
portolan charts
navigation techniques
history of navigation techniques
China
Europe
How to Cite
Abstract
Zheng He’s Nautical Chart’ and Portolan Charts were navigational tools used in China and Europe contemporaneously during the early fifteenth century and are visual representations of the navigation techniques practiced by Chinese and European mariners. However, there is a lack of comparative study of the navigation techniques presented in the charts, which often results in misunderstandings. This article bridges the gap by providing a detailed comparison of the navigation techniques through analysing the chart, historical records, and secondary research. It concludes that the similarities between Chinese and European navigation techniques far outweigh the differences. The finding indicates the diversity and unity inherent in human responses when confronted with comparable challenges.
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