Report on Ancient Clocks and the Measurement of Time Through the Ages
Report on Ancient Clocks and the Measurement of Time Through the Ages Introduction The measurement of time is one of humanity's oldest and most fundamental activities. From the earliest days of civilization, humans have sought ways to track the passage of time, both for practical purposes like agriculture and for more abstract concepts such as religious rituals. This report explores the evolution of timekeeping devices and methods, from ancient times to the development of modern clocks. 1. Early Methods of Timekeeping 1.1 Sundials The earliest known method of time measurement was the sundial, which dates back to ancient Egypt around 1500 BCE. Sundials work by casting a shadow on a flat surface marked with lines indicating the hours. As the sun moves across the sky, the position of the shadow changes, allowing people to tell the time. Sundials were widely used in ancient Greece and Rome and remained popular until mechanical clocks were developed. 1.2 Water Clocks (Clepsydra) Water...