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The riddle of the compass : the invention that changed the world
by Aczel, Amir D
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- ISBN 10
- 0151005060
- ISBN 13
- 9780151005062
- Seller
-
Galway, Ireland
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York ; London : Harcourt, 2001. 1st edition. Hardcover. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust wrapper, now mylar-sleeved. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: xvii, 178 p. : ill., maps ; 22 cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-168) and index. Subjects: Compass History. Compass. Scientific instruments. ; [literature] 2001.
Synopsis
Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time. Certainly the mariners in Amalfi in the twelfth century were. Here the compass was first invented and used in navigation, eventually helping to make Italians the world's greatest sailors. But the story of the compass is shrouded in mystery and myth. It begins in ancient China around the birth of Christ. A mysterious lodestone whose powers affected metal was known to the Emperor. This piece of metal suspended in water always pointed north and was put to excellent use in feng shui, the Chinese art of finding the right location. However, it was the Italians who unleashed the compass's formidable powers on ships at sea. Throughout the ancient world, sailors navigated by wind, and stars, and the routes of migrating birds, but bad weather and winter storms impeded their travels. When the compass migrated to Italy, the modern world began: Venice, trade with the East, the Age of Discovery. The compass made it all possible, and this is its fascinating story.
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Details
- Bookseller
- MW Books Ltd.
(IE)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 295625
- Title
- The riddle of the compass : the invention that changed the world
- Author
- Aczel, Amir D
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- 1st edition
- ISBN 10
- 0151005060
- ISBN 13
- 9780151005062
- Publisher
- New York ; London : Harcourt
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 2001
Terms of Sale
MW Books Ltd.
Returns accepted within 10 days of receipt if you are unsatisfied with either our description of, or the book itself.
About the Seller
MW Books Ltd.
Biblio member since 2005
Galway
About MW Books Ltd.
MW Books is an academic and antiquarian bookshop with a large stock in core areas such as Early Travel & Exploration, Nineteenth Century Literature, Early Political Economy, Labour and Social History, and Asian and Colonial History. Please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions or comments regarding any item listed.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
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