The following systems arose from earlier systems, and in many cases utilise parts of much older systems. For … See more

Before Roman units were reintroduced in 1066 by William the Conqueror, there was an Anglo-Saxon (Germanic) system of measure, of which few details survive. It probably included the following units of length: … See more

The Dutch system was not standardised until Napoleon introduced the metric system. Different towns used measures with the same names but differing sizes.
Some common measures:
• duim … See more

In Finland, approximate measures derived from body parts and were used for a long time, some being later standardised for the purpose of commerce. Some Swedish, and later some Russian units have also been used. … See more

In France, again, there were many local variants. For instance, the lieue could vary from 3.268 km in Beauce to 5.849 km in Provence. Between 1812 and 1839, many of the traditional units continued in metrified adaptation… See more

Up to the introduction of the metric system, almost every town in Germany had their own definitions. It is said that by 1810, in Baden alone, there were 112 different Ellen.
• Linie – Line, usually 1⁄12 inch, but also 1⁄10.… See more