Timekeeping

Sleepy History

Slumber Studios

Documentary, History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 879 Ratings

🗓️ 11 May 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Timekeeping—the ancient art of measuring the moments that shape our lives. From sundials and water clocks to mechanical marvels and atomic precision, humanity’s quest to track time has driven innovation and connected civilizations. But how did this journey begin, and how has our understanding of time evolved? Tonight, explore the fascinating history and ingenuity of timekeeping, as you drift into a peaceful and timeless sleep. Narrated by: Simon Mattacks Written by: Alexandra Turney About Sleepy History Explore history's most intriguing stories, people, places, events, and mysteries, delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. If you struggle to fall asleep and you have a curious mind, Sleepy History is the perfect bedtime companion. Our stories will gently grasp your attention, pulling your mind away from any racing thoughts, making room for the soothing music and calming narration to guide you into a peaceful sleep. Want to enjoy Sleepy History ad-free? Start your 7-day free trial of Sleepy History Premium: ⁠⁠⁠https://sleepyhistory.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠ Have feedback or an episode request? Let us know at: ⁠⁠⁠slumberstudios.com/contact⁠⁠⁠ Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠www.slumberstudios.com⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Sleepy History.
0:07.0	Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios.
0:14.0	To listen ad free, get access to bonus episodes, and support the ongoing production of this show. Check out our premium feed.
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0:58.4	Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
1:04.9	This is the sleepy history of timekeeping.
1:10.3	Rated by Simon Mattox, written by Alexandra Terny.
1:15.5	What time is it?
1:22.8	If you want to know, you can check your watch, your phone, your computer.
1:26.5	The time is all around us. But for thousands of years, that wasn't the case.
1:32.3	If people wanted to know what time it was, they had to consult the public sundial or a water clock,
1:40.3	and these weren't always reliable. Tonight, we'll be exploring the development of timekeeping devices throughout the centuries.
1:52.0	Along the way, we'll discover the ancient origins of the 24-hour day and the surprising story behind the wristwatch, once considered
2:05.3	a passing fad. So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of timekeeping.
2:18.3	When it comes to early civilizations, some evidence has unfortunately been lost to time.
2:41.0	But from the evidence we have, it seems that humans have always been fascinated by the passing of time,
2:50.0	making their best attempts to track it.
2:54.9	In the Ice Age, more than 20,000 years ago, hunters in Europe made markings in sticks
3:02.4	and bones. This may have been their way of tracking the phases of the moon.
	...

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