Who Invented the Compass?
In short: The compass was invented in China; there is no single inventor. The first magnetic direction finders were lodestone “sinan” spoons of the Han dynasty (about 2nd century BC – 1st century AD), used for divination. The magnetised-needle compass was first described by Shen Kuo in 1088 and used for navigation in the early 12th century.
Timeline
| Period | Development |
|---|---|
| 2nd c. BC – 1st c. AD | Lodestone sinan spoon in China |
| 1088 | Shen Kuo describes the needle compass and magnetic declination |
| Early 12th c. | Chinese sailors use the compass at sea |
| c. 1190 | First European record (Alexander Neckam) |
| 13th c. | Spread in the Islamic world and the Mediterranean |
A compass needle aligns with Earth’s magnetic field and points to the magnetic north pole, not the geographic one; the angle between them is magnetic declination.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented the compass?
The Chinese; there is no single inventor. The first were Han-dynasty lodestone sinan spoons.
When was the compass first used for navigation?
Chinese sailors used it in the early 12th century; the first European record dates from about 1190.
Why does a compass point north?
Its magnetised needle aligns with Earth’s magnetic field and points to magnetic north.
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