The History of Time

The history of time explores how humans have understood and measured its passage. Ancient civilizations used sundials and Water clocks, recognizing regular cycles. The development of mechanical clocks in the Middle Ages advanced precise timekeeping. The 20th-century invention of atomic clocks revolutionized accuracy, establishing Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Modern physics, especially Einstein’s theory of relativity, revealed that time is affected by speed and gravity, blending it with space into spacetime. Overall, our understanding of time has evolved from practical tools to a fundamental aspect of the universe, shaping science, technology, and our perception of reality.