Navigating with the Kamal

TL;DR

This paper describes how students learn about historic navigation by building and using a kamal, comparing its measurements of Polaris with modern techniques to understand its historical significance and practical application.

Contribution

The paper introduces an educational approach that combines hands-on construction of a historic navigational tool with practical application and comparison to modern methods.

Findings

Students successfully built and used the kamal for navigation.

Measured Polaris elevation closely matched modern measurements.

Enhanced understanding of historic navigation techniques.

Abstract

The students build and use an old navigational tool from the Arab world of the 9th century, the kamal. After an introduction to historic seafaring and navigation, they build this simple tool and understand how it can be used to measure angles. After learning that the elevation of Polaris is (almost) identical to the latitude of the observer, they apply this knowledge while using the kamal. During a field trip, they actually measure the elevation of Polaris. The result is compared with modern methods.