Section: Information / Measurement System
Variable: Area Measurement System (All coded records)
Textual evidence of area measurement systems. Measurement units are named in sources.  
Area Measurement System
#  Polity  Coded Value Tags Year(s) Edit Desc
1 Numidia present Inferred -
-
2 Mauretania present Inferred -
-
3 Axum II present Inferred -
-
4 Makuria Kingdom I present Inferred -
-
5 Axum III present Inferred -
-
6 Makuria Kingdom II present Inferred -
-
7 Tahert present Inferred -
-
8 Idrisids present Inferred -
-
9 Makuria Kingdom III present Inferred -
-
10 Zirids present Inferred -
-
11 Almoravids present Confident -
-
12 Banu Ghaniya present Inferred -
-
13 Zagwe present Inferred -
-
14 Tlemcen present Inferred -
-
15 Malacca Sultanate present Inferred -
-
16 Songhai Empire present Inferred -
-
17 Wattasid present Inferred -
-
18 Kingdom of Congo present Inferred -
-
19 Chu Kingdom - Spring and Autumn Period present Inferred -
-
20 Chu Kingdom - Warring States Period present Confident -
-
21 Qin Empire present Confident -
-
22 Later Yan Kingdom present Inferred -
-
23 Later Qin Kingdom present Inferred -
-
24 Southern Qi State present Inferred -
-
25 Third Scythian Kingdom present Inferred -
-
26 Kangju present Inferred -
-
27 Tuyuhun present Inferred -
-
28 Avar Khaganate unknown Suspected -
-
29 Kingdom of Georgia II present Inferred -
-
30 Xixia present Inferred -
-
31 Russian Principate present Confident -
-
32 Khwarezmid Empire present Confident -
Arabic systems of area included Feddan, Djarib, Daneq, Qirat. [1]

[1]: Cardarelli 2003: 77-79. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/UWS9ZN34.


33 Kazan Khanate present Inferred -
-
34 Crimean Khanate present Inferred -
-
35 Tudor and Early Stuart England present Confident -
Area was measured in squared yards, feet or miles, but the exact measurements of these differentiated between regions and time periods. [1]

[1]: (Cardarelli 2003: 35-36) Cardarelli, François. 2003. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights, and Measures: Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London; New York: Springer. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/UWS9ZN34


36 Lombard Kingdom unknown Suspected -
Measurement systems have not been mentioned in the sources consulted.
37 Bulgaria - Early present Inferred -
-
38 Bulgaria - Middle present Inferred -
-
39 Kievan Rus present Confident -
-
40 Grand Principality of Moscow, Rurikid Dynasty present Confident -
-
41 Saffarid Caliphate present Inferred -
The sources consulted have not confirmed the system used, however it is likely they had one given their extensive infrastructures, and that they probably used a Persian system.
42 Bagan present Confident -
-
43 Malacca Sultanate uncoded Undecided -
-
44 Kamarupa Kingdom present Confident -
-
45 Karkota Dynasty present Confident -
-
46 Chauhana Dynasty present Confident -
-
47 Kakatiya Dynasty present Confident -
-
48 Yadava Dynasty present Confident -
-
49 Eastern Zhou present Confident -
-
50 Southern Song present Confident -
-
51 Macedonian Empire present Inferred -
-
52 Monte Alban V Early Postclassic unknown Suspected -
-
53 Monte Alban V Late Postclassic unknown Suspected -
-
54 Early Nyoro absent Inferred -
-
55 Cwezi Dynasty absent Inferred -
-
56 Bito Dynasty absent Inferred 1700 CE 1859 CE
-
57 Bito Dynasty absent Confident 1860 CE 1894 CE
-
58 Ottoman Empire Late Period present Inferred -
-
59 Hohokam Culture unknown Suspected -
-
60 Antebellum US present Confident -
The United States Customary Units (USCS) were developed from the English measurement system and were standardised in 1824. e.g square foot, square mile, acre, section. [1] Farmlands and plantations were divided into acres. While plantations could be many thousands of acres, family farm standards were 160 acres, which was initially set by the way territory was divided up in the Midwest, and later adopted by the government as a standard measurement. [2]

[1]: ‘United States Customary Units’. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/K2R2BW5U.

[2]: Volo and Volo 2004: 62-63. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/SIB5XSW97.


61 Austria - Habsburg Dynasty I present Confident -
During this period the Austrian measurement systems were derived from Prussian and German systems. Meile (mile), Ruthe (yard), Fuss (foot), Zoll (inch), KLinie (line). [1]

[1]: (Cardarelli 2003: 100) Cardarelli, François. 2003. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights, and Measures: Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London; New York: Springer. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/UWS9ZN34


62 Napoleonic France present Confident -
France had made the metric system of measurements and units since 1794. [1]

[1]: Cardarelli 2003: 73. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/UWS9ZN34.


63 Austria - Habsburg Dynasty II present Confident 1867 CE 1918 CE
In 1871 the metric system was adopted and in 1876 it became compulsory. [1]

[1]: (Cardarelli 2003: 99) Cardarelli, François. 2003. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights, and Measures: Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London; New York: Springer. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/UWS9ZN34


64 Austria - Habsburg Dynasty II present Confident -
Old Austrian area units were “derived from Prussian and German systems.” These included joch, metze and square klafter. [1]

[1]: (Cardarelli 2003: 99) Cardarelli, François. 2003. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights, and Measures: Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London; New York: Springer. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/UWS9ZN34


65 Kingdom of Bohemia - Luxembourgian and Jagiellonian Dynasty present Confident -
eg Bohemia used Lan, Jitro, Korec and Merice. [1]

[1]: (Cardarelli 2003: 104) Cardarelli, François. 2003. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights, and Measures: Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London; New York: Springer. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/UWS9ZN34


66 Early United Mexican States present Confident -
Old Mexican units of length included Sitio, Labor, Fanega etc. the metric system was adopted in 1857. [1]

[1]: (Cardarelli 2003: 164) Cardarelli, François. 2003. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights, and Measures: Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London; New York: Springer. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/UWS9ZN34


67 Russian Empire, Romanov Dynasty II present Confident Expert -
Dessiatina: The primary unit for measuring land area in the Russian Empire was the dessiatina. One dessiatina was equivalent to about 2.7 acres or 1.09 hectares. It was widely used in agriculture, land transactions, and taxation. [1]

[1]: Очерки Истории Русской Метрологии. XI - Начало XX Века - Шостьин Н.А., n.d., Zotero link: K39G27B6


68 Golden Horde present Confident -
the Tatars had a land measurement system. [1]

[1]: Khakimov and Favereau 2017: 197. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/QL8H3FN8


69 Us Reconstruction-Progressive present Confident -
The United States Customary Units (USCS) were developed from the English measurement system and were standardised in 1824. e.g square foot, square mile, acre, section. [1] Farmlands and plantations were divided into acres. While plantations could be many thousands of acres, family farm standards were 160 acres, which was initially set by the way territory was divided up in the Midwest, and later adopted by the government as a standard measurement. [2]

[1]: ‘United States Customary Units’. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/K2R2BW5U.

[2]: Volo and Volo 2004: 62-63. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/SIB5XSW97.


70 Chaco Canyon - Late Bonito phase present Inferred -
“The Chacoan people created an urban center of spectacular public architecture by employing formal design, astronomical alignments, geometry, unique masonry, landscaping, and engineering techniques that allowed multi-storied construction for the first time in the American Southwest.” [1]

[1]: (“Chaco Culture”) “Chaco Culture” NPS Museum Collections, accessed May 8, 2023, https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/chcu/index1.html. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/NMRVDA5I


71 Plantagenet England present Confident -
Area was measured out in acres and hectares. [1]

[1]: (Prestwich 2005: 558) Prestwich, Michael. 2005. Plantagenet England 1225-1360. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/XTBKFDCI


72 British Empire I present Confident -
-
73 Soviet Union present Confident Expert 1923 CE 1991 CE
-
74 Dutch Empire present Confident -
NO_DESCRIPTION
75 Kingdom of Jimma present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Kingdom of Jimma. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


76 Habr Yunis present Inferred -
"Islam was unifying element in much of the Indian Ocean, especially on both sides—the east African coast and the Malay world. The east African societies relied on Islam to help create their world since their identity derived not only from commercial links with co-religionists but on specific modes of social and commercial behavior. The Muslim religion gave prescriptions as to everyday conduct. The Koran had specific admonitions on fair practice in the market place. The Koranic injunction to have balance scales led to the appearance of a market inspector called the muhtash whose specific job was to oversee local transactions and check weights and measures among other duties." [1]

[1]: (Rothman 2002: 80) Rothman, Norman C. 2002. “Indian Ocean Trading Links: The Swahili Experience,” Comparative Civilizations Review. Vol 46:6. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/search/Rothman/titleCreatorYear/items/3WJ42ET7/item-list


77 Kingdom of Gomma present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Kingdom of Gomma. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


78 Sultanate of Geledi present Confident -
“The Geledi speak nostalgically of the days when reserves of durra were measured in terms of diyehiin (rectangular pits that held up to 100 quintals or 10,000 kilograms of grain than in terms of gut (smaller conical pits).” .” [1]

[1]: (Cassanelli 1982, 166) Cassanelli, Lee. V. 1982. The Shaping of Somali Society: Reconstructing the History of a Pastoral People, 1600-1900. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/TKPH7Z89/library


79 Harla Kingdom present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Harla Kingdom. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


80 Hadiya Sultanate present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Hadiya Sultanate. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


81 Medri Bahri present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, because Medri Bahri was a vassal state to the Ethiopian Empire, it is likely that area measurements such as this would have existed in Medri Bahri as well. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


82 Funj Sultanate present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Funj Sultanate. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


83 Kingdom of Kaffa present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Kingdom of Kaffa. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


84 Kingdom of Gumma present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Kingdom of Gumma. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


85 Emirate of Harar present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Emirate of Harar. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


86 Early Sultanate of Aussa present Inferred -
The quote below discusses the general systems of measurement in Ethiopia, suggesting that the area measurements were likely present in the Sultanate of Aussa. “Three basic types of weight concepts may be discerned: firstly, vague ideas of heaviness or lightness obtained merely by lifting objects in the hand, or even by estimating their weight by sight; secondly, basic, but relatively crude concepts such as the porter, donkey, mule and camel-load, which, by reason of their simplicity, may be compared with fundamental measurements in other fields like the length of the human arm, the area ploughed by an ox in a day or the amount held in the hand; and, thirdly, more accurate measurements based on the use of some kind of scales, steelyard or other weighing apparatus.” [1]

[1]: (Pankhurst 1970, 45) Pankhurst, Richard. ‘A Preliminary History of Ethiopian Measures, Weight and Values, Part III’. Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Vol. 8:1. Pp 45-85 Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/collections/GWWIKDDM/items/FZPKE83Z/collection


87 Isaaq Sultanate present Inferred -
"Islam was unifying element in much of the Indian Ocean, especially on both sides—the east African coast and the Malay world. The east African societies relied on Islam to help create their world since their identity derived not only from commercial links with co-religionists but on specific modes of social and commercial behavior. The Muslim religion gave prescriptions as to everyday conduct. The Koran had specific admonitions on fair practice in the market place. The Koranic injunction to have balance scales led to the appearance of a market inspector called the muhtash whose specific job was to oversee local transactions and check weights and measures among other duties." [1]

[1]: (Rothman 2002: 80) Rothman, Norman C. 2002. “Indian Ocean Trading Links: The Swahili Experience,” Comparative Civilizations Review. Vol 46:6. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/search/Rothman/titleCreatorYear/items/3WJ42ET7/item-list


88 Portuguese Empire - Renaissance Period present Confident -
-
89 Portuguese Empire - Early Modern present Confident -
-
90 British Empire IIIIIIIIII present Confident -
-
91 Sena Dynasty absent Inferred -
-
92 Sena Dynasty unknown Suspected -
-
93 Holy Roman Empire - Ottonian-Salian Dynasty present Confident -
There was not one centralised measurement system in the HRE, rather each country had their own standards. For example, Germany and Austria used meile/fuss/zoll, while in Italy they used miglio/piede/oncia. [1]

[1]: Cardarelli 2003: 87-88, 100-103. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/UWS9ZN34.