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submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by InevitableSwing@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

It's a WaPo article that's a 12 minute read - https://archive.ph/C6mna

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[-] blobjim@hexbear.net 14 points 11 months ago

because wh*tes decided which way was right side up

[-] Murple_27@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Up is North, because North is at the top of a compass, and is the direction a compass will always point towards.

[-] addieu@hexbear.net 8 points 11 months ago

The earliest known compasses humans used were called "zhi nan zhen," meaning "south pointing needle." It pointed south. European navigators using the technology inverted this so it would point north.

[-] Murple_27@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 months ago

I guess, but those were really more of a divination tool, rather than a navigational one. They didn't start using them as a traditional compass until the 1100's.

[-] xj9@hexbear.net 6 points 11 months ago

Antarctica is clearly earth's hat. The compass has nothing to do with it.

[-] Murple_27@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago

I prefer this explanation, tbh.

this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2025
117 points (100.0% liked)

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