jan 1, 112 BC - Compass
Description:
The magnetic compass was invented during the Han dynasty between the 2nd century BC and 1st century AD. It was originally designed for geomancy and fortune telling rather than navigation. Compasses were commonly used to order and harmonize buildings by the principles of Feng Shui. These early compasses were made with lodestone, a form of the mineral magnetite that is a naturally occurring magnet and aligns itself with the Earth's magnetic field.Olmec artifacts, made from lodestone, found in Mesoamerica have been radiocarbon dated to 1400 - 1000 BC, which suggests that the Olmecs also used magnetic compasses for similar purposes.
Added to timeline:
Date:
jan 1, 112 BC
Now
~ 2139 years ago