The history of time measurement is the story of the search for more consistent and accurate ways to measure time. Early human groups recorded the phases of the Moon some 30,000 years ago, but the first minutes were counted accurately only 400 years ago. The atomic clocks that allowed mankind to track the approach of the third millennium (in the year 2001) by a billionth of a second are less than 50 years old. Thus, the practice and accuracy of time measurement has progressed greatly through humanity's history.

The study and science of time measurement is called horology. Time is measured with instruments such as a clock or calendar. These instruments can be anything that exhibits two basic components: (1) a regular, constant, or repetitive action to mark off equal increments of time, and (2) a means of keeping track of the increments of time and of displaying the result...