Final answer:
In ancient cultures, people marked the passage of time by observing celestial bodies, using timekeeping tools like sundials and water clocks, and tracking seasonal and agricultural cycles. These practices gave rise to the development of calendars, aiding in agricultural and religious activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
People in ancient cultures marked the passage of time in a variety of ways. A) By observing the movement of celestial bodies like the sun and moon, they were able to determine the time of day, month, and year. They built special observatories to measure the positions of these celestial objects, which also had religious and ritual functions.
B) The use of sundials and water clocks was another method employed to track time. Sundials used the position of the sun's shadow to indicate the time, while water clocks measured time through the regulated flow of liquid.
C) Seasonal changes and agricultural cycles were crucial in ancient times. Tracking seasonal changes helped determine when to plow, sow, and harvest crops. The yearly inundation of the Nile, for example, provided a reliable schedule for ancient Egyptian farmers.
These methods form the bedrock of archaeoastronomy, which is the study of how prehistoric people understood celestial objects and used them for navigation, creating calendars, farming activities, and scheduling ceremonies. The outcome of all these observations and measurements led to the first calendars, which helped coordinate agricultural and religious activities aligned with celestial events.