Why Do We Have ‘Different’ Kinds of Timekeeping Around the World?

Imagine you're playing a game with friends, but everyone starts at different times, some begin when the sun is up, others when it's dark. That’s what happened with timekeeping around the world! Long ago, people used the sun and stars to decide when to start their day. Over time, each place made its own rules for time so they could match their lives with the sky. Some places even added extra hours or changed how long a day was!

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Examples

  1. A farmer in Egypt starts work when the sun rises, while a sailor in Babylon uses the stars to track time.
  2. In China, people celebrate New Year based on the moon’s cycle, not the sun.
  3. One day in London is 12 hours ahead of one day in Tokyo.

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Categories: History · time· history· clocks