A Brief History Of Time Zone

 

Although most people rarely think about time zones, they play a vital role in globalization and world affairs. From the lush jungles of Brazil to the snow capped peaks of Nepal, the world operates in distinct time zones that are each influenced by the position of the sun. But when exactly were they implemented and why?

Join us as we explore the fascinating history of time zones and discover how they are used today.

The Emergence Of Time Zones

Before the late 1800s, it was commonplace for individual towns to specify a local time that citizens would then try to replicate on their personal watches or clocks. This meant that if you traveled from one town to another, you would likely have to update your personal watch upon arrival. In fact, there were over 300 local times throughout the United States during this time.바카라사이트

Numerous clock towers were constructed throughout the world, such as the famous Troglodyte Tower (Time Bell) in Bern, Switzerland. These clock towers were constructed to display local time and provide sound using large cast iron bells to mark each passing hour. Later, smaller bells were added to mark quarter hours. Over time, the tower began to be adorned with mechanical moving figures that would delight visitors.

Although these clock towers existed in some cities, the local time was not always obvious. Upon arriving to a new location, people would either have to locate a town clock or seek out someone who worked in the business of resetting personal clocks.

For example, a train would depart from Paris at 1 p.m. and arrive to Le Mans (120 miles west) at 2 p.m. even though the journey took two full hours. This means that passengers disembarking the train were forced to set their clocks back one hour and then do the same in reverse upon returning to Paris. However, with the advent and popularization of railroads as a method of traveling quickly across long distances, this soon began to change.