The Evolution of Time Measurement: How and When Humans Began to Measure Time in Units Like Years, Months, Days, Hours, Minutes, and Seconds

Since it’s less complex and less time-consuming compared to measuring all seconds, minutes, and hours in time.

Who Started Measuring Intervals of Time?

From a basic standpoint, the question of who started measuring time intervals can lead us to the answer: Women.

Women’s menstrual cycles are the most regular event that happens to humans, and it’s something they needed to know. From this came the concepts of counting and measuring in general. This was further enhanced by the observation of the moon cycles, which led to the concept of months—from the moon, the original timekeeper. As I type this, it’s a fascinating thought.

The Concept of Years, Months, and Days

In prehistory, the concepts of years (a solar cycle), months (a lunar cycle), and days (a rotation of the Earth) were well-known. The use of twelve is deliberate, with twelve inclusive months in the year forming the basis for the hour. The zodiac signs were identified to model these cycles and could be used to tell time at night as each constellation met the horizon. This knowledge may have originated around Crete, aiding navigation and maritime endeavors.

Astronomical Ages and Timekeeping

The Minoans had highly accurate timekeeping methods, using a 7-day week, and the movement of zodiac signs to navigate and mark time. They could calculate celestial events with remarkable precision, such as the 19-year Metonic cycle and the saros period (18 years and 11 days), which helps predict solar eclipses. The Minoans were adept at trigonometry and used it to derive the time of day or year from observations. Concepts like the Dekadrion (10-day period) and the Enneadecennial (19-year cycle) were integral in their timekeeping practices.

The First Use of Hours

The division of a day into four parts—sunrise, midday, sunset, and midnight—was used as early as 9500 BCE, inferred by the ideograms representing a unified system of cardinal directions, seasons, and time of day. As the year progressed, the variance in night and day length influenced subsequent divisions into twelfths, leading to 12 hours at the equinox. The sexagesimal base 60 for minutes was chosen due to its divisibility, allowing for precise measurements with water clocks or hour candles. Although seconds are an arbitrary subdivision of minutes, they were not necessary for ancient timekeeping.

The Emergence of Modern Conventions

The first use of hours was a significant development, with written records confirming the use of these conventions. Sumer and Egypt are often cited as the origins, but the Minoans seem to have been equally adept in astronomy and timekeeping with their Zodiac signs and Orbital Calculators. By example, the Minoan deities represented celestial bodies, organized anticlockwise, aligning them with the oldest known system: Assyria (9500 BCE). Despite the complex written language, the Minoans had instruments for precise measurements, reflecting their interest in understanding the organization of the natural world.

Conclusion

The evolution of time measurement from early Women’s menstrual cycles to the precise calculations of the Minoans illustrates the progression of human knowledge and the human drive for understanding and organizing the world around us. It is a rich tapestry of human endeavor, revealing the deep-seated need to quantify and manage the passage of time.