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The Measure of All Things: Uncovering the Lost History of Length

Fred Foster

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Published in The Measure Of All Things: The Seven Year Odyssey And Hidden Error That Transformed The World

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Length is one of the most fundamental concepts in human experience. We use it to measure everything from the height of a building to the distance between two stars. But how did we come up with the units of measurement we use today? And how have they changed over time?

The Measure of All Things: The Seven-Year Odyssey and Hidden Error That Transformed the World

by Ken Alder

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	450 pages

In his fascinating book The Measure of All Things, historian Ken Alder takes readers on a journey across centuries and cultures, revealing the surprising stories behind the units of measurement we use today.

Alder begins his story in ancient Egypt, where the cubit—the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger—was the standard unit of length. The cubit was used to measure everything from the height of the pyramids to the length of a piece of cloth.

In Babylon, the cubit was replaced by the foot, which was based on the average length of a man's foot. The foot was divided into 12 inches, and the inch was further divided into 12 barleycorns. The barleycorn was the smallest unit of length in the Babylonian system, and it was used to measure everything from the diameter of a grain of barley to the width of a hair.

In Greece, the foot was replaced by the stade, which was the distance that a man could walk in one minute. The stade was divided into 600 feet, and the foot was further divided into 12 inches. The inch was the smallest unit of length in the Greek system, and it was used to measure everything from the length of a ship to the height of a statue.

In Rome, the foot was replaced by the passus, which was the distance that a man could take in two steps. The passus was divided into 5 feet, and the foot was further divided into 12 inches. The inch was the smallest unit of length in the Roman system, and it was used to measure everything from the width of a road to the height of a building.

In the Middle Ages, the passus was replaced by the yard, which was the distance from the tip of the nose to the end of the outstretched arm. The yard was divided into 3 feet, and the foot was further divided into 12 inches. The inch was the smallest unit of length in the medieval system, and it was used to measure everything from the length of a piece of cloth to the height of a horse.

In the Renaissance, the yard was replaced by the meter, which was based on the length of a pendulum that swings at a certain rate. The meter was divided into 100 centimeters, and the centimeter was further divided into 10 millimeters. The millimeter was the smallest unit of length in the metric system, and it was used to measure everything from the diameter of a hair to the wavelength of light.

In the Scientific Revolution, the meter was replaced by the international yard, which was based on the length of a certain metal bar. The international yard was divided into 3 feet, and the foot was further divided into 12 inches. The inch was the smallest unit of length in the international system, and it was used to measure everything from the length of a ship to the diameter of a planet.

Today, the international yard is still the standard unit of length in the United States and the United Kingdom. However, most other countries have adopted the metric system. The metric system is based on the meter, and it is divided into 100 centimeters, 1000 millimeters, and 1000 kilometers. The metric system is used to measure everything from the length of a piece of paper to the distance between two stars.

The Measure of All Things is a fascinating and informative book that sheds light on one of the most fundamental aspects of human experience. Alder's writing is clear and engaging, and he brings the history of length measurement to life with vivid anecdotes and colorful characters. The Measure of All Things is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the history of science, technology, or culture.

The Measure of All Things: The Seven-Year Odyssey and Hidden Error That Transformed the World

by Ken Alder

4.5 out of 5