Quote Originally Posted by Kraco
Man, Bill, you are insulting all the inventors out there. Sure, it looks very simple once you hold it in your hands, but it's not quite as simple before you have even imagined it. Anyway, like has been said, the compass was just a small treat to get their attention. And it managed to do that just fine
If we assume Wiki articles to be credible, the gimbal was first described in 280-220BC, while Medieval Europe started to flourish due to technological and agricultural advances in 1000AD. I had expected something like this to be around already if it was really required.

I wasn't aware about how fragile compasses were though (as Ryll pointed out), so I have to admit that I must have thought the task was simpler than it actually is.