Answered by AI, Verified by Human Experts
Final answer:Early cars were navigated with a steering wheel, much like how ships were steered by a rudder. Revolutionary navigational tools like the astrolabe and magnetic compass were pivotal in maritime exploration, allowing for navigation well away from the coastline.Explanation:Early cars were navigated by use of a steering wheel.In the evolution of navigation, several key technologies played significant roles. The astrolabe, an ancient Greek device used for finding one's north-south position by the stars, was an essential navigational tool that reached European mariners after improvements in the Middle East. Furthermore, the magnetic compass, originating from China, became instrumental in European navigation by the fifteenth century. These devices, along with advancements in ship design such as triangular lateen sails for maneuvering against the wind, and sternpost rudders from China for better steering, revolutionized maritime exploration and travel.Ships like the caravel utilized these improvements with their larger hulls and rudders moved to the rear, thus enabling longer voyages into open oceans instead of coast-hugging. Specifically, for steering, the rudder was a critical development, akin to the steering mechanisms in early cars, providing better control and maneuverability on the seas, much as the steering wheel does for cars....