Around the time of the Roman Empire the terms inch, foot and yard were refined. What was the length of a foot based on?
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During the Roman Empire, the length of a foot was based on the average length of a man's foot. The Romans used body measurements as a practical way to standardize measurements. To find out more precise information about the length of a foot during that time, we can explore historical records and references from ancient texts.
One way to research this is to refer to ancient Roman writings that describe their measurement systems. For example, the Roman historian Vitruvius describes in his book "De architectura" how the Roman foot was derived from the human body. He states that the foot was equal to the length of a man's foot, minus the width of his thumb.
Another source of information is the surviving artifacts from the Roman era. Archaeological findings such as measuring rods and rulers provide valuable insights into the measurements used by the Romans, including the length of their foot.
By consulting these historical records and artifacts, we can gain a better understanding of the specific measurement used for a foot during the time of the Roman Empire.