How was length measured long ago?

Answer 1

In which country? The Metric System was invented in post-Revolutionary France to replace a vast and utterly chaotic collection of trade-invented units, often varying regionally.

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Britain used the Imperial system (inch, foot, pound-avoirdupois, gallon, etc), and that spread to America and many other countries, albeit with some changes such as the difference between UK and US gallon. Other countries had their own units: I found one used the delightfully named "pood" for mass, but I don't know which!

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Nowadays the Systeme Internationale version of the Metric System is used world-wide, both nationally and internationally, for trade, sports, science and engineering.

Answer 2

In ancient Egypt and many other ancient civilisations, the body and other objects were used to provide the basis for units of measurement.

The cubit (the length of the arm from elbow to the end of the middle finger) was called mH.

The width of a man's palm was called Ssp, equal to one-seventh of a cubit.

The width of a finger was called Dba, equal to one twenty-eighth of a cubit, so four Dba equalled one Ssp.

A reed was called nbi and this was the equivalent of two cubits.

For larger measurements the "land cubit" and the "auoura" or "rod" were used. One hundred land cubits equalled one auoura or rod.

A wooden measuring-rod would be marked off in cubits, palms and fingers, much as a modern ruler has inches or centimetres.

Answer 3

legth was measured in cubits spans palms digits fathoms yards fots inches and hands.

i know weird dont ask

Answer 4

some say they used there body parts such as a finger a foot or something else..... wink ..wink...but that's what ancient Rome say.

Answer 5

they used with seed and hand span and leg span

Answer 6

They used lengths like a finger, a handwidth, an arm etc.

Answer 7

Feet, yards, and miles, were quite popular for length; pounds for mass or weight. Still are, in a few countries.

Answer 8

By a penis