Magnetic compasses, their impact on early navigation and exploration was inestimable. It was invented in China and by the 14th century, compasses had become the primary navigational tool for mariners. The compass provided explorers with a reliable method for traveling the world’s oceans. The compass allowed interaction some peaceful and others not between isolated cultures. Without the compass, people on the seas would not have any sense of direction. The compass is truly a very important tool.