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Measuring over Time

MARTYN GODDARD—GETTY IMAGES

Measurements have been used throughout history. But in the past, people had different ways of measuring than we do today. They used different tools.

Tools of the Past

Long ago, people didn’t have rulers and scales. They had other ways to measure. People used their bodies and things around them to take measurements.

A person’s body was used to measure length. A “foot” was about the length of a man’s foot. Stones and grains were used to measure weight. The sun, moon, and stars were used to mark the time or the date.

But the tools were not always the same. So the results were not always the same. Over time, people made better tools. Today, we use standard measurements. The tools we use give us more precise results.