To what extent, if at all, were globes used for practical navigation during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries? Globes were discussed by several writers of the period, but, with the exception of John Davis, these were not practical seamen. What evidence is there that globes were ever actually used by navigators at sea?

The first recorded globe was made by Martin Behaim in 1490. The most celebrated makers who followed were Gemma Frisius in 1530, Gerhard Mercator in 1541 and Emery Molyneux in 1592.