Asked by r

Which quotation from A History of the World in 100 Objects best reveals the historical significance of the chronometer?

The chronometer for the first time allowed absolutely accurate charting of the oceans, with all that implied for establishing safe and rapid shipping routes.
Darwin’s voyage on the Beagle and his subsequent work on evolution pushed human origins...into an unthinkably distant past.
Geologists had already demonstrated that the Earth was far older than previously believed, undermining the calculation made by Archbishop Usher.
Thanks to clockmakers like Earnshaw, precise and reliable clocks and watches became ever more affordable

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
"The chronometer for the first time allowed absolutely accurate charting of the oceans, with all that implied for establishing safe and rapid shipping routes."

Reason: this directly states the chronometer's key historical role—solving longitude/navigation at sea and transforming global shipping, trade and empire—whereas the other quotations address unrelated scientific or manufacturing developments.