What system of chronology existed in ancient Rome? About the calendar and time

What system of chronology existed in ancient Rome? The majority will think for a long time, because when studying history, teachers use a modern calendar. But he did not immediately become such as we know him.

Chronology in Ancient Rome

Without a clock and a calendar, it would be difficult to live. It is impossible to make plans for a long term, it is difficult to explain when an event occurred. Therefore, the desire to somehow order the chronology is quite natural. Ancient Rome was developed by tsilivizatsiey. That is why it is extremely interesting how the time count was organized in that era. So what system of chronology existed in Ancient Rome? What changes did it make during its use? All this is extremely interesting.

In ancient times, people did not organize the calendar. They noted the change of time of day, seasons. The cyclicity of what was happening was noticed, and subsequently for convenience it became logical to use certain reference points, some significant events. By relating to them the subject of the conversation, it was possible to navigate in time and make plans. The problem is that each nation had its own system of chronology. In ancient Rome for the reference point was taken the expected year of the founding of the city of the same name. Naturally, the exact date caused numerous disputes, which continue even now, but more or less generally accepted is 753 BC. To calculate it, the astronomers who could determine the date of the solar eclipse, which is supposed to take place on the birthday of the founders of the city - Romulus and Remus, put their hand.

But this is not all, because this system was used only from 16 years BC. E. Long before that, chronology in Ancient Rome was conducted according to the lists of consuls, that is, when asked about when he was born, a local resident would say, for example, that "in the year when the consuls were Lucius Cornelius Tzek and Claudius Tsilny Metell." It was quite convenient, because the term of office was just the right time. This is the system of chronology that existed in ancient Rome. But it allowed to be guided only by years, but what about the months, weeks, days, etc.?

Calendar and countdown

In the most ancient system of the Romans was only 10 months, the beginning of the year was in March. But approximately in VII-VI century BC. E. The calendar was borrowed, which was already divided into 12 parts.

The day was divided into hours familiar to us, however their duration was not constant. Both day and night, divided into 12 parts, regardless of their duration. For the countdown, the sundial was used, and later the borrowed water in Greece.

Reforms and further use

The existing calendar was not accurate enough, and the famous Julius Caesar conducted reforms that introduced the notion of a leap year, and also counted from January, and not from March, as before. It was from this day on that the consuls took office and a new economic cycle began. This calendar is known to us as Julian, for a long time it was used even in Russia.

But this influence of the Romans on the ways of counting time has not ended. Even in the Middle Ages, after the Christmas was used as a reference point , historians often pointed out the years from the foundation of the "eternal city". This is the system of chronology that existed in ancient Rome and what influence it had even after many years.

Heritage in the modern world

The Roman Empire has long disintegrated, people only read about it in history textbooks. But it is surprising how significant are the knowledge that has remained from it and is still used today.

The names of the months in Latin now sound familiar to any European, since they have remained virtually unchanged. Every day of the week in Rome was dedicated to some god: Mercury, Saturn, Venus and others. Having undergone minor changes, their names also remained in European languages.

By the way, the very word "calendar" came precisely from the Romans. Kalendarium was a review of the year, and so called special debt books. Interest on loans had to be paid at the beginning of each month, so in the end, they began to call the whole system.

Let the system undergo one more radical reform, and now the Gregorian calendar is generally accepted , but the legacy of the great Roman epoch is not
Forgotten.

Alternatives in the Present

Many calendars, like the Roman one, have long gone down in history, they were replaced by a more or less common universal system. And what system existed and continues to be used, and is there any such at all? Of course, although it is not generally accepted. For example, this is the Jewish calendar, according to which in 2014 corresponds to 5774-5775. For the reference point is taken the so-called new moon of the universe, that is, the moment of creation of the world. Also the time count is organized differently.

Underestimate the popularity of alternative systems should not be: for example, the Jewish calendar is official in Israel along with the usual Gregorian.