Telling Time Throughout History

Obelisk used by early Egyptians

100

3000 BCE obelisk used the sun and the shadow it cast to tell time.

Babylonians use sundial

300

A 12-hour clock using the sun and the shadow it casts on the gnomon to tell time

Water Clock used by Early Greeks and Egyptians

350

Also called a clepsydra that used the flow of water to tell time

Ancient Chinese use the burning of ropes to tell time

400

lighting flames on ropes and marking candle wax to track the passing of time

Hourglass used by Europeans

Oct 26, 1100

first tool to tell time not dependent on the sun

Mechanical Clocks used to tell time

Oct 26, 1300

First appreared in Europe

Watches used to tell Time

Oct 26, 1400

Analog clocks that people could wear or carry first created

Copernicus argues that the earth rotates in 24 hour periods

Jan 1, 1500

The earth revolves around the sun annually, creating seasons. The earth rotates in 24 hour periods, creating day and night.