MEASURING IS TO COMPARE. OLD MEASURING SYSTEMS

Comparison is the basis of measurement. If you want to measure a length, you need to compare the object to be measured with a suitable unit of measurement.

Before the implementation in Spain of the International System to measure: lengths, surfaces, capacity, weight..., each region had its own measures. Since that is no longer possible, they have fallen into disuse. Some old units of measurement will be shown below:

In length, the legua real was very common, which is equivalent to 6,687 Km., but there was also the legua marina, a little smaller. These long distances were taken from what a horse could cover in about an hour. Other minor distances were measured in braza, step, vara, elbow, foot, hand, inch, names that have their origin in the physical distance to which they were equivalent measured on a person or an object.

In mass, the ton already existed, which was less than what we now call by that name, 920.16 kg. It was equivalent to 80 arrobas, approximately 11.5 kg. Other measures of mass: el quintal, which was 4 arrobas, the libra which was 25 parts of the arroba, 0.46 kg and the ounce, 28.7558 grams.

In capacity the best known is the celemín, also called almud. It was equivalent to 4,625 current liters. It was divided into 4 quarters. The fanega was equivalent to 12 celemines and 4 quadrils. The cahiz, 12 fanegas, and the half celemín were also used.

To measure the passage of time, the movement of the sun was monitored during the day, and the movements of the stars at night. Over the years, more and more precise instruments were invented to measure time.