Abstract
The development of weights in antiques and modern societies is shown and its recent standardisation. Small weights are developed from the weight of grains. Originally the weight denoted more a value rather than a mass. The introduction of coins and its connection to weights is explained. Examples of weight and coin systems in ancient empires as well as in modern times are given and presented in tables, including conversion factors. Antique and modern calibration and control methods are described. Organisations and authorities engaged in metrological work concerning mass are listed. Examples of weights not destined for weighing is presented. This includes loading weights, counterbalance weights, pendulum weights of watches, weights for storing energy, pressure relief valves, and wheel balancing weights.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
M.A. Crawforth, Handbook of Old Weighing Instruments (Chicago, International Society of Antique Scale Collectors, 1984)
H.G. Wiedemann, G. Bayer, Events in the historical development of weights and money, in Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology II, ed. by P.B. Vandiver, J.R. Druzik, G. Wheeler, (Materials Research Society, 1991)
G. Hellwig, Lexikon der Maße und Gewichte (Bertlsmann/Lexikothek, Gütersloh, 1983)
H.R. Jenemann, The development of the determination of mass, in Comprehensive Mass Metrology, ed. by M. Kochsiek, M. Gläser (Wiley/VCH, Berlin, 2000), pp. 119–163
A. Eran, Samen in der Metrologie, in Die historische Metrologie in den Wissenschaften, ed. by A. Witthöft (St. Katharinen, 1986), pp. 248–261
W.M.F. Petrie, Ancient Weights and Measures (London, 1926)
A. Mariette, Les papyrus egyptiens du Musee de Boulaq, vol. II (Paris, 1872)
A. Scharff, Ein Rechnungsbuch des königlichen Hofes aus der 13. Dynastie. Z. ägypt. Sprache Altert. Kd. 57, 51–68 (1922)
M. Kochsiek, R. Schwartz, The unit of mass, in Comprehensive Mass Metrology, ed. by M. Kochsiek, M. Gläser (Wiley/VCH, Weinheim, 2000), pp. 484–579
F.G. Skinner, Weights and Measures—Their Ancient Origins and Their Development in Great Britain up to AD 1855 (Science Museum, London, 1967)
G. Theuerkauf, Arabisch-jementische Waagen und Gewichte – Maß und Symbol. Teil 1: Metrologische Betrachtungen aus kulturhistorischer Sicht. Jem.-Rep. 35(2), 7–10 (2004)
G. Theuerkauf, Arabisch-jementische Waagen und Gewichte – Maß und Symbol. Teil 2: Waagen und Gewichte aus dem Suq von Sana’a. Jem.-Rep. 36(1), 15–21 (2005)
Wikipedia, Indus-Kultur. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus-Kultur#Wissenschaft (2007)
K.M. Petruso, Early weights and weighing in Egypt and the Indus Valley. MFA Bull. 79, 44–51 (1981)
S.V. Gupta, in Units of measurement, ed. by R. Hull et al. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol. 122 (Springer, Heidelberg, 2010)
Q. Guangming, Research on Weights and Measures Through the Ages in China (Kexue chubanshe, Beijing, 1992), p. 520
W. Chengluo, A History of Weights and Measures in China (Shangwu Yinshuguan, Commercial Press, Shanghai, 1937)
U. Theobald, H.U. Vogel, Chinese, Japanese and Western Research in Chinese Historical Metrology. A classified bibliography (1925–2002), http://www.sino.uni-heidelberg.de/staff/janku/hilfsmittel/materials/bibliography_metrology.pd. Universität Tübingen (2004)
R. Kokotailo, Chinese cast coins. http://www.calgarycoin.com/ (2008), Calgary Coin
China-Window, Chinese Steelyard-Gancheng. http://www.china-window.com/china_culture/china_culture_essentials/chinese-steelyard-ganchen.shtml (2008)
M.I. Marcinkowski, Measures and Weights in the Islamic World (ISTAC, Kuala Lumpur, 2002)
W. Hinz, Islamische Maße und Gewichte, in Handbuch der Orientalistik, erste Abteilung, Ergänzungsband I, Heft 1 (Brill, Leiden, 1970)
Ancient Roman units of measurement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Roman_units_of_measurement#Weight (2006)
W. Trapp, Kleines Handbuch der Maße, Zahlen, Gewichte und der Zeitrechnung (Reclam, Stuttgart, 1992)
M.H. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1974)
Karlspfund. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlspfund, Wikipedia (2008)
Captiulare episcoporum CCVI, vol. 4635, fol. 43v. 793, Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale Lat., pp. 70–92
Frankfurter Synode 794. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synode_von_Frankfurt, Wikipedia (2008)
H. Witthöfft, Münzfuß, Kleingewichte, Pondus Caroli und die Grundlegung des nordeuropäischen Maß- und Gewichtswesens in fränkischer Zeit (Scripta Mercaturae, St. Katharinen, 1984)
H. Ziegler, Die Kölner Mark in neuem Licht. Hans. Geschichtsbl. 98, 39–60 (1980)
A. Cruz, Weights and Measures in Portugal (Instituto Português da Qualidade, Caparica, 2007)
T.C. Mendenhall, Fundamental standards of length and mass, in Weights and Measures Standards of the United States: A Brief History. http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP447/, L.E. Barbrow and L.V. Judson, Editors. 1893/2006 NBS Superintendent of Documents: Washington D.C., pp. 28–29
Kilogram, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram, Wikipedia (2008)
T.R. Quinn, The kilogram: the present state of our knowledge. IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. 40(4), 81–85 (1991)
H.R. Jenemann, Das Kilogramm der Archive vom 4. Messidor des Jahres 7: Konform mit dem Gesetz vom 18. Germinal des Jahres 3? in Genauigkeit und Präzision, ed. by D. Hoffmann, H. Witthöfft (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, 1996), pp. 183–213
G. Fraustadt, W. Weber (eds.), Agricola, Georgius: Schriften über Maße und Gewichte (Metrologie). Georgius Agricola: Ausgwählte Werke, ed. by H. Prescher (Berlin, 1959)
H. Witthöft, Georgius Agricola über Maß und Gewicht (1998). www.unze.de
G. Agricola, De mensuris et ponderibus (Basel, 1550)
I. Gothofredus, Codex Theodosianus 16,8,1-29. Europäische Hochschulschriften, Reihe III, B. 453, ed. by R. Frohne (Bern, 1991)
Hunterian
J. Roth, Weights and Measures. Everyman’s Classics S. 1983: EBLA (UK)
J. Roth, Das falsche Gewicht. Die Geschichte eines Eichmeisters. Romane, vol. 3 (Köln, 1999), pp. 135–231
R.J. O’Hara, Ancient Greek Coins of Miletus. http://rjohara.net/coins/lydia-electrum/ (2009)
L. Weidauer, Probleme der frühen Elektronprägung. Monographien zur antiken Numismatik, I (Office du Livre, Fribourg, 1975)
M. Miller, Münzen des Altertums (Braunschweig, 1963)
N. Ferguson, The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World (Allen Lane, London, 2008)
Roman currency. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_currency, Wikipedia (2008)
H. Witthöfft, Die Rechnung und Zahlung mit Gold und Silber nach Zeugnissen des 6. bis 9 und 13/14 Jahrhunderts. Hamburger Beiträge zur Numismatik, 1985. 30/32 (1976/78), pp. 9–36
J. Renger, Silbermünzen im Jmen – Der Maria Theresia Thaler. Jem.-Rep. 39(2), 13–16 (2008)
Y. Yadin, Megiddo of the Kings of Israel. Bibl. Archaeol. 3(33), 66–95 (1970)
Y. Yadin, Biblical Megiddo. In L.I., in Jerusalem Cathedra, ed. by L.I. Levine (Jerusalem), pp. 120–181
M. Feinberg Vamosh, Monkey weights. Personal communication (2008)
Anonymus, Zur Keltenzeit Weber in Eschborn. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 2012(138), p. 57
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Robens, E., Jayaweera, S.A.A., Kiefer, S. (2014). Weights. In: Balances. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36447-1_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36447-1_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-36446-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-36447-1
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)