Category: History > Timekeeping
The ancient Romans were instrumental in the development of timekeeping systems that have shaped our modern understanding of time. One of their significant contributions was the introduction of the 12-hour division of the day, which they derived from the earlier Egyptian system. Romans used sundials and water clocks to measure time, but it was their creation of the "Roman Calendar" in 45 BCE, known as the Julian Calendar, that had a lasting impact. This calendar introduced the concept of a leap year and restructured the months to align more closely with the solar year. The Julian Calendar remained in widespread use until the late 16th century when it was replaced by the Gregorian Calendar, which is still in use today. Thus, the foundational work of the Romans not only influenced their own society but also laid the groundwork for contemporary timekeeping practices around the globe.