Final answer:
Mounted navigation involves the use of animals and offers advantages in speed and mobility, whereas dismounted navigation is on foot and offers stealth and the ability to handle difficult terrain. The effectiveness of each has evolved with changes in military technology and tactics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major differences between mounted and dismounted navigation involve the method by which individuals travel across land. Mounted navigation refers to the use of animals like horses for transportation, which allows for increased speed, mobility, and the ability to cover larger distances. This method was particularly effective in warfare before the widespread use of gunpowder-based weapons as mounted warriors could attack and retreat quickly, and had a height advantage.
Dismounted navigation, on the other hand, involves traveling on foot. This method provides stealth and the ability to traverse terrain that may be challenging for animals, but limits the distance that can be covered compared to mounted travel. In the context of military history, dismounted soldiers were more vulnerable to mounted attacks but became more effective against cavalry with the advent of guns.
In conclusion, the key difference between mounted and dismounted navigation is the mode of travel—either on the back of animals or on foot, respectively—each with their own strategic advantages and limitations based on the historical context and technological advancements.