Telling Time Through the Ages

By kellyhoxworthsilva
  • 10,000 BCE

    Position of the Sun

    Early man looked at the position of the sun (sunrise, noon, sunset) to measure time
  • 3000 BCE

    Obelisk

    Early Egyptians used shadows cast by the sun to measure time
  • 1500 BCE

    Water Clock

    Early Greeks and Egyptians used the flow of water to measure time
  • 500 BCE

    Candle Clocks

    The Ancient Chinese used notched candles to measure time
  • 300 BCE

    Sundial

    Babylonians adapted the Egyptian obelisk, attaching a gnomon (vertical marker)
  • 300 BCE

    Knot Rope

    Ancient Chinese developed method of burning knotted rope to measure time
  • 1000

    Hourglass

    First recorded use was by Europeans
  • 1300

    Mechanical Clocks

    First appeared in Europe
  • 1400

    Watches

    First appeared in Italy

  • Clocks with Pendulums

    Invented in Europe