Ancient Maltese Seafarers Likely Navigated By The Stars

Ancient Maltese seafarers had both a complex cosmology and likely at least rudimentary skills in celestial navigation. It's thought that they used stars in the southern constellation of Crux to make their way around the south-central Mediterranean.

The top 3

  1. Earliest Known Celestial Navigators: The Phoenicians, around 2000 BC, are considered the first Western civilization to develop oceanic navigational techniques using the sun and stars, while Austronesians began long-distance voyaging around 3000-1000 BC, colonizing Micronesia by 1500 BC.
  2. Most Advanced Ancient Navigation Techniques: Polynesians were arguably the masters of ancient navigation, using stars, ocean currents, wave patterns, and seabirds to traverse thousands of miles of the Pacific. Other advanced techniques included measuring latitude using instruments like the astrolabe and quadrant.
  3. Cultures with Most Extensive Star Charts: Polynesians and Micronesians created the most elaborate star maps and star compasses for their extensive voyages across the Pacific. Ancient Egyptians carved detailed star maps, known as "diagonal star clocks," into tomb lids around 2000-1600 BC, influencing the 24-hour day. The first complete star map still existing today was made in Dunhuang, western China, in 650 A.D.

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