Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Chronometry
(2,963 words)

1. Everyday life and culture

1.1. Introduction

The everyday importance of chronometry is apparent on two levels in particular in early modern Europe. First, from the late Middle Ages, a precise measurement of the time of day was becoming relevant to ever more people. It can thus be seen that first the hour and then (from the 17th century) the minute was registering in popular consciousness, and during the 18th century, the measurement of seconds was also becoming more frequent in the context of certain activities (Time 3.5.).

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Fuchs, Ralf-Peter and Wepster, Steven, “Chronometry”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_030689>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160907



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