How Did Ancient People Measure Time Without Clocks?

Long ago, people didn’t have clocks, but they had the sun and stars to help them know when it was time to sleep or work. For example, when the sun went down, that meant it was night. People also used the moon to count weeks, like how we use a calendar today.

When the sun is high in the sky, it’s daytime, and when it sets, it’s nighttime. Ancient people watched the sun’s position to know what time of day it was. Some even used tall sticks called gnomons to see how long their shadows were at different times.

The moon changes shape every month, so people could count weeks by watching its phases, like a full moon or a crescent moon. Stars also helped them know the time of year because they moved across the sky in patterns.