We have different metrics internationally for length/distance, weights, temperature, etc. Why, as far as I know, is there only hours/minutes/seconds for the entire world? Not that I’m complaining, the alternative would be a huge pain in the a**, but I’m curious how that happened over time (sorry about the pun). TIA!
In: Physics
Creating a standard for length is easy. Pick some stick. Cut a bunch of other sticks to the same length, and you have a standard. Every culture on earth could do this. Weight and volume are similarly easy.
Precisely measuring time down to the second is much harder. Solar time varies throughout the year, and measuring stars takes more than a second. Mechanical clocks of sufficient precision didn’t show up until the 16th century, well into the age of exploration. This meant one standard was created, and spread to the world before other cultures independently invented their own.
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