History of Measurements

distance
see also:
- measurement of time

Distance:

bronze & early iron ages:
- measurements used:
  - cubit:
    - Egyptian = 20.6 +/- 0.19in = 524 +/- 5mm (divided into palms & digits)
    - Jewish = 17.5in = 447mm
    - Assyrian = 21.5in = 546mm (divided into 2 feet, each being 3 palms long, each palm being 20 susi)
    - Turkey/Persian = 26.6 +/- 0.19in = 676 +/- 5mm (in use until 19thC AD!)
ancient Greeks:
- set standards of measurement:
  - Greek foot (the precursor of the British foot) = 1/2 Egyptian cubit = 12.45in = 316.25mm
Roman empire:
- set standards of measurement:
  - Roman foot = 11.6in = 296mm = 16 digitus (fingers) = 12 uncia (inches) = 4 palmus
  - Roman mile = 1000 paces (mille passus) = 5000 Roman feet = 1480 metric metres
8thC AD - Charlemagne in France:
- in agreement with Arabian rulers & traders, set a standard of measurement based on Arabian cubit:
  - Arabian cubit = 25.56in = 649mm = 2 Frankish feet = 24 pouces or inches
  - this lasted in France until superceded by the metric system in 1795
1305AD Edward I in England:
- declared standards for measurements:
  - 1 inch = 3 grains of barley round and dry
  - 12 inch = 1 foot
  - 3 foot = 1 ulna (yard)
  - 5.5 ulna = 1 rod
  - 40 rods x 4 rods = 1 acre
1497AD Henry VII in England:
- set weight & distance standards
1742AD Royal Society of London commissioned George Graham to produce a brass bar of the standard yard
1760AD royal commissioned yard-long bar which was accepted in British parliament in 1824 but destroyed in 1834 when the parliament building was burnt down.
French introduce the metric system which was accepted in French law in 1795
British imperial measures legalised in 1855 and remained until superceded by the metric system.