that is thinking that the Eurocentric model of history is the only one.Never mind that Chinese history Never mind that the majority of “great inventions” by European inventors had been stolen from the Chinese-whose civilization goes back almost 5,000 years. From the making steel to the printing press to pottery and ceramics and everything in between, the Chinese invented them all sometimes centuries before they were “invented” in the “west”
All calendars are chock full of, apparently, arbitrary choices….
Why are there 7 days in a week? Why are there 12 months in a year? Why is January 1st the first day of the year, and not, say, July 1st? Why do some months have 30 days and some 31? And one only has 28? And who decided which month got how many days? Why doesn’t the winter solstice mark the beginning of a new year? Or maybe the spring equinox? And then there are the choice of names… it seems the Romans held sway over the majority of month names and the Norse over the names of the days. What’s with that? Why don’t the weeks have names? And how did we come to decide just how long a second should be?
Now I actually know the historical answers to most of my (rhetorical) questions… but think about it…. WHY? 8^)
oldpine52 over 6 years ago
Ain’t that the truth.
aerilim over 6 years ago
If the Chinese keep doing what they’re doing, we’re the ones that will need to get new calendars…
timbob2313 Premium Member over 6 years ago
that is thinking that the Eurocentric model of history is the only one.Never mind that Chinese history Never mind that the majority of “great inventions” by European inventors had been stolen from the Chinese-whose civilization goes back almost 5,000 years. From the making steel to the printing press to pottery and ceramics and everything in between, the Chinese invented them all sometimes centuries before they were “invented” in the “west”
sml7291 Premium Member over 6 years ago
All calendars are chock full of, apparently, arbitrary choices….
Why are there 7 days in a week? Why are there 12 months in a year? Why is January 1st the first day of the year, and not, say, July 1st? Why do some months have 30 days and some 31? And one only has 28? And who decided which month got how many days? Why doesn’t the winter solstice mark the beginning of a new year? Or maybe the spring equinox? And then there are the choice of names… it seems the Romans held sway over the majority of month names and the Norse over the names of the days. What’s with that? Why don’t the weeks have names? And how did we come to decide just how long a second should be?
Now I actually know the historical answers to most of my (rhetorical) questions… but think about it…. WHY? 8^)
Mentor397 over 6 years ago
Calendars are cheaper if you wait until February to buy them.