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So what was the technology?
by 40acres 10y ago
So what was the technology?
- xkcd-sucks 10y agoNavigation, mostly https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/navigation-and-transportation/wayfinding-and-navigation https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/nav...
- hinkley 10y agoHow do Polynesians rate on spatial intelligence tests? They were eyeballing star patterns instead of using navigational tools like the Europeans, right? So they were doing the math in their heads.
- CydeWeys 10y agoI don't think it has anything to do with racial differences in specific kinds of intelligence. I really just think it's a matter of practice makes perfect. If your entire culture is based around seafaring then you've created the perfect environment to foster a tradition and cadre of good navigators, and that's what they got.
- WalterBright 10y agoI didn't see anything in the article or other things on polynesian navigation that indicated they used mathematics. To determine longitude by the sun and stars, an accurate chronometer was still necessary.
- calebsurfs 10y agoThe ability to sail a boat up wind. The boats they used, catamarans, have a hard time sailing less than 90 degrees to the wind even today.
- civilian 10y agoYour comment is a little ambiguous--- we've built modern-day catamarans that can definitely sail upwind. I think you're saying that the catamarans that Polynesians have built were never able to go up wind.
- caf 10y agoThe small catamaran I sailed as a teenager had no problem tacking upwind. I don't believe they're inherently any worse at this than a single-hulled craft?