time and calanders
Why were early calendars inaccurate?
They did not match the exact length of the solar year.
Why was accurate time important for sailors?
It helped them determine their position at sea.
Why were early maps often incorrect?
They were based on guesses and limited knowledge.
What was the “longitude problem”?
Sailors could not accurately measure east–west position.
Why did measuring time matter for discovery?
It helped people understand and navigate the world.
What was the main goal of the Julian calendar?
To fix errors in earlier Roman calendars.
What was a major weakness of sundials?
they did not work at night or on cloudy days.
How did explorers improve maps?
By providing firsthand observations.
Why was latitude easier to find than longitude?
Latitude could be measured using stars.
How are clocks and maps connected?
Both rely on measurement and accuracy.
Why did leap years exist?
To keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.
What did mechanical clocks improve?
Precision and consistency in timekeeping.
What did many early maps include besides land?
Myths, monsters, and imagined places.
What was needed to calculate longitude?
Accurate timekeeping.
Why did scientific progress take so long?
Trial and error was necessary.
How did calendar mistakes affect religion?
Holidays slowly shifted to the wrong seasons.
How did better clocks affect daily life?
People began organizing life around exact times.
Why were accurate maps important for trade?
They made travel safer and faster.
How did solving longitude change exploration?
It made sea travel safer and more precise.
What role did mistakes play in discovery?
Mistakes led to improvements.
Why was reforming the calendar controversial?
People resisted changing long-standing traditions.
Who benefited most from accurate timekeeping?
Scientists, sailors, and merchants.
What skill did cartographers rely on most?
Mathematics and observation.
What happened when sailors misjudged longitude?
Ships got lost or wrecked.
Why were these discoveries important to history?
They changed travel, trade, and science.