Medieval Time explores how Europeans in the Middle Ages measured and organized time, revealing the surprising influence of calendars on trade, governance, and religious life. Early medieval timekeeping was fragmented, with local calendars tied to agricultural cycles or saints' days. Intriguingly, the need for synchronized timekeeping grew with the rise of the Church and expanding trade networks, pushing for standardized calendars that could coordinate everything from religious festivals to market days. The book examines the move towards standardized calendars and its impact on medieval society.
We learn how the Church played a vital role in promoting the Julian calendar and reforming timekeeping to align with religious events like Easter. The book progresses chronologically, beginning with diverse early systems, then analyzing standardization efforts by monastic orders and rulers. It concludes by assessing the lasting impact of medieval timekeeping on our modern understanding of time.
