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Medieval Weights Measures - Politics, Business, Civil, History - Posted: 23rd Mar, 2012 - 3:27pm
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Post Date: 1st May, 2009 - 11:08am / Post ID: #
Measures and Weights Medieval
Yes and No. They used measures of a foot as their foot. Plus they used a cubit which also could vary from person to person. As things became standardized we got the measures that we use nowadays. Weights were based on coins usually a gold coin. The higher weights were measured in stones which were approx. 22 pounds each. How they came to the current weights we now use is somewhat beyond me. 
Medieval Weights & Measures History & Civil Business Politics
Yes measures varied but they were used in the same way we do today. What we use to day I think evolved though necessity and the development of central powers helped them to be come more standardized and recognized by all.
I think the North American versions stemmed from the idea of making it easier to calculate weight by having more even numbers. The ton of 2000 lbs is a good example of this as the British unit is 2280 lbs.
The ultimate example is the metric system make every thing a ten based number.
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Measures and Weights Medieval
It's funny how in role-playing we order our characters to walk for miles with 300-500 gold pieces on their person together with rations, armor and weapons. We have no mercy for weight!
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Measures and Weights Medieval
There is a full resource available of Medieval Weights and Measures. Here is a sample:
QUOTE Foot
The length of a man's foot. A measure of length. From town to town, country to country, this measurement could differ, but as a rule a French Pied was equal to 12.8 English inches, while a Spanish Pie was 10.96 English inches
Gallon
An English measure of capacity. The imperial gallon contains 27714 cubic inches: the winegallon of 231 cubic inches is the standard in the United States.
Pound
A measure of weight and mass derived from the ancient Roman libra (which is equal to 327.25 grams), but this ancient standard has been modified variously over the course of time, and in different countries. The pound consisted originally of 12 ounces, corresponding more or less to that of troy weight. This is still used by goldsmiths and jewellers in stating the weight of gold, silver, and precious stones; but as early as the thirteenth or fourteenth century a pound of sixteen ounces was used for more bulky commodities. This was made a standard for general purposes of trade by Edward III, and known as the pound aveir de peis, I.e. Of merchandise of weight, now called avoirdupois, q.v. At other times the pound has varied locally from 12 to 27 ounces, according to the commodity, pounds of different weight being often used in the same place for different articles, as bread, butter, cheese, meat, malt, hay, wool, etc. Ref. Source 5
The length of a man's foot. A measure of length. From town to town, country to country, this measurement could differ, but as a rule a French Pied was equal to 12.8 English inches, while a Spanish Pie was 10.96 English inches
Gallon
An English measure of capacity. The imperial gallon contains 27714 cubic inches: the winegallon of 231 cubic inches is the standard in the United States.
Pound
A measure of weight and mass derived from the ancient Roman libra (which is equal to 327.25 grams), but this ancient standard has been modified variously over the course of time, and in different countries. The pound consisted originally of 12 ounces, corresponding more or less to that of troy weight. This is still used by goldsmiths and jewellers in stating the weight of gold, silver, and precious stones; but as early as the thirteenth or fourteenth century a pound of sixteen ounces was used for more bulky commodities. This was made a standard for general purposes of trade by Edward III, and known as the pound aveir de peis, I.e. Of merchandise of weight, now called avoirdupois, q.v. At other times the pound has varied locally from 12 to 27 ounces, according to the commodity, pounds of different weight being often used in the same place for different articles, as bread, butter, cheese, meat, malt, hay, wool, etc. Ref. Source 5
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Medieval Weights & Measures
I echo what you said Fairmaiden, not only they carry this huge weight but they jump with that load across pits, climb walls and dodge arrows in battle... No respect for gravity I tell you.
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TOPIC: Medieval Weights & Measures