Ancient navigation refers to the methods used by early civilizations to find their way across land and sea. These techniques included observing the stars, the sun, and natural landmarks. Sailors often relied on the position of the North Star and the movement of celestial bodies to guide their journeys. In addition to celestial navigation, ancient cultures developed tools like the compass and sextant to improve their accuracy. The Polynesians used their knowledge of ocean currents and wind patterns to navigate vast distances across the Pacific Ocean, while the Greeks and Romans created maps to aid in land travel.