What are some standard measurement unitsand their definitions?
For a helpful list of standard measurement units and systems for converting them to
other types of units, see Appendix 1 in the back of this book.Upon what system were ancient measurementsbased?
Initially, people used different measurement systems and methods depending on
where they lived. Most towns had their own measurement system, which was based on
the materials the residents had at hand. This made it difficult to trade from region to
region.
Measurements eventually became based on familiar and common items. But
that did not mean they were accurate. For example, length measurements were
often based on parts of the human body, such as the length of a foot or width of the
middle finger; longer lengths would be determined by strides or distances between
outstretched arms. Because people were of different heights and body types, this
meant the measurements changed depending on who did the measuring. Still, they
were close enough for the needs at the time. Even longer lengths were based on
familiar sights. For example, an acre was the amount of land that two oxen could
42 plow in a day.
The advent of agriculture in human civilization necessitated the development of mathematical concepts so that
farmers could better predict times to plant and harvest. Gallo Images/Getty Images.