Historical measurement unit systems

The earliest known measurement system has been created in the 4th and 3rd millennium BC in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus Valley, and Elam (far west and southwest of modern-day Iran). According to Babylonian and Egyptian records and the Hebrew Bible the forearm, and or finger was used to measure the length, while the periods of the sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies were used to measure time. The initial procedure for measuring the container's capacity was to fill the containers with plant seeds and the seeds were then counted to measure the container volume. After the weighing tools were invented the seeds and stones served as standards.

Units of length

The earliest known units of length are Egyptian and Mesopotamian cubit that were used in the 3rd millennium BC. In ancient India the units of length that were used included the dhanus (Dhanush (bow)), the krosa (cry, (cow-call)), and yojana (stage). In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the unit "cubit" was the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.
The common units such as inch, foot, and yard were evolved from ancient Egypt, Greeks, and Romans. The ancient Greeks and Romans inherited the foot from the Egyptians. The Roman foot was divided into 12 unicae and 16 digits.
The Roman mile which is equal to 5000 feet or 1480 [m] was introduced in England during the occupation. The mile unit was later changed by Queen Elizabeth I from 5000 to 5280 feet (1609 m) or 8 furlongs. $$1 \left[\mathrm{furlong}\right] = 40 \left[\mathrm{rod}\right] = 5.5 \left[\mathrm{yards}\right] = 201.168 \left[\mathrm{m}\right]$$
The origin of yard unit is still today, unknown. There are two theories about its origin. Some believe that the yard unit originated from the double cubit, while others believe that it originated from the cubic measure. The earliest version of the yard was divided into 2,4,8, and 16 parts which are called half-yard, b, finger, and nail.

Units of mass

The earliest and the smallest unit of mass was grain which is equal in today's units of mass, to 64.79891 \(\left[\mathrm{mg}\right]\). The early unit was a grain of wheat or barleycorn used to weigh precious metals such as silver or gold. The unit pound was derived from the mina unit that was used in ancient civilizations. The smaller unit of mina was shekle and the larger unit was talent. These units were not constant since the value varied from plate to place. In Babylonians and Sumerians, one talent was equal to 60 minas while one minas was equal to 60 shekels. The Roman talent was equal to 100 libra (pound) that was smaller in magnitude than the mina. In England and the U.S., the troy pound was used for monetary purposes and was divided into 12 ounces. One troy pound is equal to approximately 373.2 \(\left[\mathrm{g}\right]\). The carat is used for measuring gemstones that had their origin in the carbo seed and later standardized at 1/144 ounce and then 0.2 gram.
In Britain, the larger mass units that were used was stone, quarter, hundredweight, and ton. Today only the stone unti remain in customary use for measuring the personal body weight. Today \(1 \left[\mathrm{stone}\right] = 14 \left[\mathrm{pounds}\right] = 6.35 \left[\mathrm{kg}\right]\), however the earlier version of stone unit \(1 \left[\mathrm{stone}\right] = 16 \left[\mathrm{pounds}\right] = 7.25 \left[\mathrm{kg}\right]\). The other units were multiplies of 2, 8, and 160 times the stone, or 28, 112, 2240 pounds which is equal to 12.7, 50.8 and 1016 [kg], repsectively.

Units of time and angle

The ancient Babylonians were responsible for the division of the circle in 360 degrees and the day into hours, minutes and seconds due to the sexagesimal system of numbers (numeral system with sixty as the base). There were of course many other systems of measurement that divided the day differently.
In ancient times there were many civilizations developed their systems for measuring length, area, and capacity. These ancient civilizations are:

• The Chinese System
  • Old Chinese Units of Length Converter
  • Old Chinese Units of Area Converter
  • Old Chinese Units of Weight Converter
• The Indian System
  • Old Indian Units of Length Converter
  • Old Indian Units of Weight Converter
• The Egyptian System
  • Old Egyptian Units of Length Converter
  • Old Egyptian Units Of Weight Converter
• The Persian System
  • Old Persian Units of Length Converter
  • Old Persian Units Of Area Converter
  • Old Persian Units of Weight Converter
  • Old Persian Units of Capacity Converter
• The Hebrew System
  • Old Hebrew Units of Length Converter
  • Old Hebrew Units of Weight Converter
  • Old Hebrew Units of Capacity Converter
• The Greek System
  • Old Greek Units of Length Converter
  • Old Greek Units of Weight Converter
  • Old Greek Units of Capacity Converter
• The Roman System
  • Old Roman Units of Length Converter
  • Old Roman Units of Area Converter
  • Old Roman Units of Weight Converter
  • Old Roman Units of Capacity Converter
• The Arabic System
  • Old Arabic Units of Length Converter
  • Old Arabic Units of Area Converter
  • Old Arabic Units of Weight Converter
  • Old Arabic Units of Capacity Converter

The unit systems before metric systems

The essential part of the metric system is decimal numbers, with only one base unit and the multiples created on the decimal base. The first advocate for the use of decimal numbers for everyday purposes was Simon Stevin that wrote De Thiende in 1585. It is worth noting that the Indians have used decimal numbers for mathematical computations long before Simon Stevin. The notation for decimal fractions, developed by Simon Stevin was clumsy but was upgraded with the introduction of the decimal point which can be attributed to Bartholomaeus Pitiscus who used this notation in 1595 for his trigonometrical tables. In 1670 the proposal was published by Gabriel Mouton which is similar to the Wilkins proposal except that the base unit of length was 1/1000 of a minute of arc of geographical latitude which is about 1.852 \(\left[m\right]\). The base unit was named virga while other units of length in that system were combinations of series of names that had prefixes- similar to prefixes in the SI unit system. In 1790, the report was submitted to United States Congress by Thomas Jefferson in which he proposed the adoption of a decimal system and weights and measures. With the base unit foot.
From ancient times up to the adoption of the SI unit system, many countries have developed their unit system that consisted of length, area, capacity, and weight units. In some unit systems, two different capacity units were used i.e. one type of capacity unit was used for liquids while other types of capacity units were used for dry materials. In Western and Southern Europe the following unit systems that were used are:

• Old French Unit System - In France, before the French Revolution of 1789, the old measures derived from the system of Charlemagne. The problem of this unit system was that units varied from one region to another, subdivisions were irregular and also suffered from regional variations. This regional variations generated complications in business transactions. In 1812 the old weights and measures used before French Revolution were resotred by the French Emperor Napoleon bonaparte. The Law of July 4th, 1837 reinstated the metric system, making it obligatory in France from January 1st, 1840, and banning the use of other weights and measures from that date.
• Old Belgian Unit System - The old Belgian unit system was developed from French and German unit systems. The unit system was in use until 1820 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was intially adopted in 1816.
• Old Swiss Unit System - the unit system that was in use until 1877 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was initially adopted in 1868.
  • Old Swiss Units of Length Converter
  • Old Swiss Mass Units Converter
• Old Scottish Unit System - The unit system was in use in Scotland before the adoption of Imperial Weights and Measures act of 1824.
  • Old Scottish Length Units Converter
  • Old Scottish Area Units Converter
  • Old Scottish Volume Units Converter
  • Old Scottish Mass Units Converter
• Old Irish Unit System - The Irish measures were in use in Irealnd before the adoption of Imeprial Weighs and Measures Act of 1824.
  • Old Irish Length Units Converter
  • Old Irish Volume Units Converter
• Old Italian Unit System - The Italian unit system was in use before the adoption of the metric system. The definition of units in this system varies geographically, and some units changed over the years. The metric system became compulsory in Italy in 1861, but it was adopted in Milan as early as 1803.
  • Old Italian Length Units Converter
  • Old Italian Mass Units Converter
• Old Spanish (Castillian) Unit System - The system was in use until metric system became compuslory in 1860.
  • Old Spanish Length Units Converter
  • Old Spanish Area Units Converter
  • Old Spanish Mass Units Converter
  • Old Spanish Volume Units Converter
• Old Portuguese Unit System - the old portugese unit system was in use until 1872 when metric system became compulsory.
  • Old Portuguese Length Units Converter
  • Old Portuguese Area Units Converter
  • Old Portuguese Mass Units Converter
  • Old Portuguese Volume Units Converter
• Old Maltese Units Converter
• Old Balearic Unit System Converter
• Old Greek Unit System Converter
• Old Turkish Unit System - The Turkish system was in use untile 1933 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was adopted in 1869.
  • Old Turkish Length Units Converter
  • Old Turkish Area Units Converter
  • Old Turkish Mass Units Converter

In Central and Norther Europe the following unit systems that were used are:

• Old Austrian System - The Austrian unit system was developed using Prussioan and German unit systems. It was in use until 1876 when metric system became compuslory. However, the metric system was adopted in 1871.
  • Old Austrian Length Units Converter
  • Old Austrian Volume Units Converter
  • Old Austrian Mass Units Converter
• Old German (Prussian) System - The system wwas in use until 1872 when metric system beame compulsory.
  • Old German (Prussian) Length Units Converter
  • Old German (Prussian) Volume Units Converter
  • Old German (Prussian) Mass Units Converter
• Old Czechoslovakian System - the unit system was in use util 1876 when metric system became compulsory. Hwoever, the metric system was adopted in 1871.
• Old Hungarian System - the old Hungarian unit system was in use untile 1876 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was adopted in 1874.
• Old Romanian System - the old Romanian unit system was in use until 1884 when metric system became compulsory. However, the matric system was adopted in 1864.
• Old Dutch System - the system was in use until 1820 when metric system became compulsory.
  • Old Dutch Length Units Converter
  • Old Dutch Volume (Capacity) Units Converter
  • Old Dutch Mass Units Converter
• Old Danish System - the unit system was in use until 1912 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was adopted in 1907.
  • Old Danish Length Units Converter
  • Old Danish Area Units Converter
  • Old Danish Volume (Capacity) Units Converter
  • Old Danish Mass (Weight) Units Converter
• Old Polish System - the unit system was in use until 1919 when metric system became compulsory.
  • Old Polish Length Units Converter
  • Old Polish Area Units Converter
  • Old Polish Volume (Capacity) Units Converter
  • Old Polish Mass (Weight) Units Converter
• Old Swedish System - the unit system was in use until 1889 when metric system became compulsory.
  • Old Swedish Length Units Converter
  • Old Swedish Area Units Converter
  • Old Swedish Volume (Capacity) Units Converter
  • Old Swedish Mass (Weight) Units Converter
• Old Norwegian System - the unit system was in use unitl 1882 when metric system became compulsory. Although, the metric system was initially adopted in 1875.
• Old Finnish System - the system was in use unitl 1892 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was adopted in 1886.
• Old Icelandic System - the unit system is similar to Danish system and was in use until 1907 when metric system was adopted and became compulsory.
  • Old Icelandic Length Units Converter
  • Old Icelandic Area Units Converter
  • Old Icelandic Volume (Capacity) Units Converter
  • Old Icelandic Mass (Weight) Units Converter
• Old Estonian System
• Old Lativan System
• Old Russian System - the unit system was in use before 1917 Revolution and are now obsolete. They can still be found in 19th century Russian literature. The metric system was adopted as the national standard by Soviet government in 1927.
  • Old Russian Length Units Converter
  • Old Russian Mass (Weight) Units Converter

In Africa the following unit systems that were used are:

• Old Moroccan Units Converter - the old Moroccan unit system was in use until 1923 when metric system became compulsory.
• Old Tunisian Units Converter - The old Tunisian unit system was in use until 1895 when metric system became compulsory.
• Old Libyan Units Converter - the old Libyan unit system was in use until 1927 when the metric system became compulsory.
• Old Egyptian Units Converter - the old Egyptian unit system was in use until 1891 when the metric system became compulsory.
• Old Abyssinian Units Converter
• Old Eritrean Units Converter
• Old Ethiopian Units Converter - the old Ethiopian unit system was in use until 1963 when the metric system became compulsory.
• Old Somalian Units Converter - the old Somalian system was in use until 1972 when metric system became compuslory. However, the metric system was initially adopted in 1950.
• Old Guinean Units Converter - the old Guinean unit system was in use until 1906 when the metric system became compulsory.

In Middle East and Asia the unit systems that were used are:

• Old Saudi-Arabian Units Converter - The old Saudi-Arabian unit system was in use until 1964 when the metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was intially adopted in 1962.
• Old Persian Units Converter - The old Persian unit system was in use until 1949 when the metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was intially adopted in 1933.
• Old Syrian Units Converter - The old Syrian unit system was in use untile 1931 when the metric system was adopted.
• Old Turkmenian Units Converter
• Old Indian Units Converter - The old Indian unit system was in use until 1956 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was intially adopted in 1920.
• Old Burmese Units Converter
• Old Ceylonese and Madrasian Units Converter
• Old Annamese Units Converter
• Old Cambodian Units Converter - The old Cambodian unit system was in use until 1914 when metric system became compulsory.
• Old Thai Units Converter - The old Thai unit system was until 1936 when metric system became compulsory. However the metric system was intially adopted in 1923.
• Old Indonesian Units Converter - The old Indonesian unit system was in use until 1938 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was initially adopted in 1923.
• Old Philippine Units Converter - The old Philippine unit system was in use unitl 1975 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was initially adopted in 1906.
• Old Japanese Units Converter

In Central and South America the unit systems that were used are:

• Old Cuban Units Converter - The old Cuban unit system was in use until 1960 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was initially adopted in 1882.
• Old Haitian Units Converter - The old Haitian unit system was in use until 1922 when metric system became compulsory. The unit system was derived from both French and Spanish unit systems. It should be noted that the metric system was initially adopted in 1920.
• Old Honduran, Costa-Rican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, and Guatemalan Unit System - In these five central American states the metric system became compulsory in 1912. However, the metric system was initially adopted in 1910. The old unit systemin these five central American states was derived from Spanish Castillain system.
• Old Venezuelan Unit System - The old Venezuelan unit system was in use until 1914 when metric system became compulsory. The unit system was derived from Spanish (Castillian) unit system. It should be noted that the metric system was initially adopted in 1857.
  • Old Venezuelan Length Units Converter
  • Old Venezuelan Mass Units Converter
• Old Colombian Unit System - The old Colombian unit system was in use until 1854 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was orignailly introduced in 1853. The system was derived from Spanish (Castillian) unit system.
  • Old Colombian Length Units Converter
  • Old Colombian Mass Units Converter
• Old Brazilian Unit System - The Brazilian unit system was in use until 1874 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was originally introduced in 1862.
  • Old Brazilian Length Units Converter
  • Old Brazilian Volume Units Converter
  • Old Brazilian Mass Units Converter
• Old Paraguayan Unit System - The old Paraguayan unit system was in use until 1889 when metric system was initially introduced and became compulsory.
  • Old Paraguayan Length Units Converter
  • Old Paraguayan Volume Units Converter
  • Old Paraguayan Mass Units Converter
• Old Argentinian Unit System - The old Argentinian unti system was derived from Spanish (Castillian) unit system and was in use until 1887 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was originally introduced in 1863.
  • Old Argentinian Length Units Converter
  • Old Argentinian Volume Units Converter
  • Old Argentinian Mass Units Converter
• Old Chilean Unit System - The old Chilean unit system was in use until 1865 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was initailly adopted in 1848.
  • Old Chilean Length Units Converter
  • Old Chilean Volume (Capacity) Units Converter
  • Old Chilean Mass Units Converter
• Old Peruvian Unit System - The Peruvian unit system was derived from Spanish (Castillian) unit system and was used until 1869 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was initially adopted in 1862.

In North America the following unit systems that were used are:

• Old Mexican Unit System - The old Mexican unit system was in use until 1896 when metric system became compulsory. However, the metric system was initially adopted in 1857.
  • Old Mexican Length Units Converter
  • Old Mexican Area Units Converter
  • Old Mexican Mass Units Converter
  • Old Mexican Volume (Capacity) Units Converter