Of course, we assume that the calendar that we use is used around the world. That’s true to a certain extent. It is the International Standard (Gregorian) Calendar that is used by most countries, corporations, governments, etc. It has been around since 1582, when the Julian Calendar was corrected.
The three Solar Calendars: (Tracking the sun) are the Gregorian, Persian Higri, and the Julian Calendar that is still used in some Orthodox churches.
The Lunar Calendars: (Tracking the Moon) is the Islamic.
Combination Calendars: Chinese, Hebrew (Jewish) and the Hindu
Why did we develop so many calendars? Because many cultures and religious traditions did not have contacts with others so they developed their own.
For most of pre-recorded history, people only noted the changing of the seasons as they used them in farming. The most basic day/night notation was strictly local and determined when people got up and when they went to bed. The invention of fire provided some light after dark, but it primarily was used for cooking.
The Bronze Age “Official” Calendars
As humans transitioned to farming, “guessing” the seasons wasn’t enough. They needed precise dates for flooding and harvests.
|
Civilization |
Key Contribution |
|
Sumerians (~3000 BCE) |
Created the first formal calendar by dividing the year into 12 lunar months (29–30 days each). They used a “base 60” system, which is why we still have 60-minute hours. |
|
Egyptians (~3000 BCE) |
Developed a solar calendar based on the star Sirius. They realized the Nile flooded every 365 days and created three seasons: Inundation (flood), Emergence (planting), and Harvest. |
|
Babylonians (~1800 BCE) |
Refined the lunar calendar and were likely the first to use a 7-day week, naming days after the sun, moon, and five visible planets (which were also their gods). |
The transitions to the modern calendars occurred over a very long period of time. As noted, the Gregorian evolved from the Julian, which evolved from the Roman calendar. They evolved about the same time as their cultures evolved, with the exception of the Chinese whose culture goes back 5,000 years
Comparison Summary
|
Calendar |
Type |
Current Year (Approx.) |
Primary Use |
|
Gregorian |
Solar |
2025 |
International Civil Standard |
|
Islamic |
Lunar |
1446–1447 |
Religious (Global Muslim community) |
|
Hebrew |
Lunisolar |
5785–5786 |
Religious (Jewish community) |
|
Chinese |
Lunisolar |
4722 (Year of the Snake) |
Cultural/Traditional (East Asia) |
|
Solar Hijri |
Solar |
1403–1404 |
Civil (Iran/Afghanistan) |
|
Ethiopian |
Solar |
2017–2018 |
Civil/Religious (Ethiopia/Eritrea) |
Today our chronometers and computers calculate in terms of nano-seconds, which is less than the flick of the eye. These are important to many industrial and medical applications. Not only have our methods of tracking time changed, we have explored the universe beyond our galaxies. Thus, our concept of time and space has changed radically. Some scientists are blurring the distinctions between time and space. We live in a fast-paced world that would seem strange to our fore bearers.
When I was a child, time before supper seemed to pass slowly, and now the years appear to disappear so quickly. Thus, my concept of time also has changed.
+ These tables are direct copies of Gemini.Google.com reports
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