The Europeans Arrive - the Portuguese and the Dutch

Voyagers have always had to work out their position at sea. Contrary to popular myth, sailors knew that the Earth is shaped like a globe. Over 2200 years BPE the Greeks realised that you could work out latitude by calculating the angle of the sun above the horizon at midday. To this end, the first astrolabes were made. A simple disk, with 360 degrees marked around the perimeter, and a pointer pivoted in the middle, the navigator held it up to eye level and the angle of the sun taken by moving the pointer to align with the sun. With the angle so indicated, a navigator could determine the latitude of their vessel. This astrolabe came from the Dutch East Indiaman Gilt Dragon, wrecked near Ledge Point in 1656. Of the five known East Indiamen wrecked on the WA coast, Gilt Dragon was the furthest off course. Clearly, even the best instruments were of limited use in unknown waters. 

A Museum diver recovers an astrolabe from the Dutch ship Vergulde Draeck.
Credit: WA Museum