How did people tell time long long ago?

Answer 1

Egyptian obelisks of some 3500 years ago, also known as shadow clocks, they cast shadows onto markers on the ground. They showed morning sun as eastwards which turned west at noon. There were candle clocks with spaced markings, used in China from 520AD. Water clocks could be the oldest time measuring instruments. Time is regulated by the inflow and outflow of liquid. There were also incense clocks with calibrations and even with different fragrances so that hours could be noted by the change of fragrance. The sundial, as with the obelisk, records the time according to the position of the shadow cast by the sun

Answer 2

They told the time by the sun. When the sun rose, it was time to get up. When the sun set it was time to go to bed.