Before there were clocks, candles were made with graduations that would mark off approximate hours as the candle wax melted away.
Sundials were designed to work most accurately in specific lattitudes. Some sundials had a removeable stylus that could be adjusted to the current lattitude as one traveled.
Most ancient cultures (and even some current ones) didn't "live by the clock." For people within these cultures life consists of making the most of their existence. This means they awaken and sleep based on the cycles of the sun much more than those in "developed" cultures. During daylight, they work on their gardens and shelters. As the sun sets, so do they, and settle in for sleep until the next sunrise.
Until the discovery and harnessing of the pendulum, clocks were too large and expensive for most people. Many had only an "hour hand." Galileo's pendulum allowed for the first mechanical clocks to be small enough to sit on a mantel piece, and accurate enough to allow for a "minute hand" to be practical.
Come by often to check for additional TicBits. Sign up for our periodic emails which offer special discounts on selected items, as well as a selected TicBit in each mailing.
You don't need a PayPal account to pay by credit card; however, all payment methods (including credit card payments) will be processed via PayPal or Google Checkout
