Navigating through History: Development of Units of Length in Nautical Charts Depicting the Adriatic Sea, ca. 1270–1824

The Mediterranean Sea is a crucible where diverse cultures, geopolitical strategies, and economic interests converge, highlighting its significance for interdisciplinary studies.The Adriatic Sea, a crucial part of this region, shares similar developmental challenges with the wider Mediterranean area, particularly in the context of maritime navigation-a practice deeply rooted in the basin for millennia.This research aims to scrutinize the map scales and units of measurement employed on nautical charts of the Adriatic Sea, spanning from approximately 1270 to 1824, to assess their effectiveness in conveying essential navigational information.This study meticulously reviews a corpus of 84 nautical charts of the Adriatic and the Mediterranean Sea, employing a systematic and thorough methodology to document all identified scales and corresponding units of length.These findings were cataloged in tabular form to facilitate comparative analysis.Employing chronological ordering, the historical development and quantitative application of these measurement units on the charts were traced, enabling the visualization of their historical development over time in both qualitative and quantitative terms.