Astrolometers Used During The Renaissance

The Renaissance was a time of enlightenment and ideological rebirth, starting from the 14th century and lasting until the 17th century. A movement which began in Florence, Italy, it encouraged new ways of thinking, not necessarily conforming to the church. People were creating inventions, making art, and exploring new lands. Of course, such a large endeavour would require lots of funding, which is why trade became very widespread in Europe during the Renaissance. Navigation prowess was required for exploration and overseas trading, and many ships were built because of this. However, navigation was extremely difficult without the necessary tools. It was difficult for a traveller to find their way without getting lost, whether you were travelling across land or sailing through bodies of water.

One such device was the astrolabe, an elaborate sort of inclinometer used to find one’s latitude or time. There were two main versions used during the Renaissance: the mariner’s astrolabe, which was a graduated metal circle with an alidade, or measuring device, affixed to it. A sailor would be able to look through the alidae measure the altitude of a star, which would allow them to approximate the time or their latitude. There was, however, a more advanced version of the astrolabe, known as the planispheric astrolabe. While the mariner’s astrolabe was invented during the Renaissance, the planispheric astrolabe first originated hundreds of years before it. Over many years of evolution, it became the intricate instrument used during the Renaissance. The following paragraphs will cover how the planispheric astrolabe has evolved and what it was used for throughout the