Italian units of measurement
A variety of units of measurement were used in the various independent Italian states and Italian dependencies of foreign empires up to the unification of Italy in the 19th century. The units to measure length, volume, mass, etc., could differ widely between countries or between towns in a country (e.g. Rome and Ancona), but usually not between a country and its capital.
The Kingdom of Sardinia included the island of Sardinia and the continental areas of Piedmont (with the capital Turin) and Liguria (with Genoa). The Kingdom of Naples included the island of Sicily (with Palermo). The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was part of the Austrian Empire, which also shared ruling family with Modena, Parma and Tuscany (capital Florence). The Papal States included the areas of Latium (with the capital Rome), Umbria, Romagna (with Bologna) and the Marches (with Ancona).
Milan adopted the metric system in 1803, during the Napoleonic wars, albeit reusing names of older units.[1][2] After the Congress of Vienna, the various Italian states reverted to their original systems of measurements.
In 1845 Sardinia passed legislation to introduce the metric system within five years. In 1859 Lombardy (but not Venetia) was annexed. In 1860 Parma, Modena, Tuscany, Umbria, Romagna and the Marches, and the Two Sicilies (Naples) were assimilated into Sardinia and under the Law 132 of 28 July 28, 1861 the metric system became the official system of measurement throughout the (this year) Italian kingdom.[3] The last to be incorporated were Venetia (1866), and the rest of the Papal States (1870).
For historical Roman measurements see Ancient Roman units of measurement. The following is a list of units before the adoption of the metric system as well as local names for metric-based units.
Over time a lot of unit names were reused for metric units, adding an unnecessary obstacle to the system change. These units are marked with €. They are also placed after the traditional.
Length
Units varied from one province or city to another.[2] In the north the atomo was the smallest unit.[4]
Dedicated use: # architect's † commercial ‡ mercer's
1 piede liprando = 0.51377 m [1][2] Lombardy–Venetia1 punto = 12 atomi [5] 1 miglio€ = 1 km [5] Milan1 dito (a.k.a. pollico) = 36.27 mm [7] 1 atomo€ = 1 mm [1] Venice1 linea = 10 decimi [11] |
Modena1 cavezzo = 6 piedi [13] Naples1 oncia = 5 minuti [14] Sicily1 palmo = 9.5297 in [17] Palermo1 canna = 10 palmi = 2.065 m [9] |
Papal States1 palmo# = 12 once = 8.79 in [19] Rome1 oncia# = 10 decimi = 18.6 mm [11] AnconaBolognaParma1 punto = 12 atomi [20] |
Sardinia1 punto = 12 atomi [21] Piedmont1 raso = 14 oncie [21] Turin1 piede = 293 mm [9] Genoa1 palmo = 5 1⁄3 once [21] Tuscany1 quattrino = 4 denari = 9.728 mm [22] Florence1 braccio = 2 palmi = 583 mm [9] |
Mass
One libbra (pound) differed between 307[2] and 398 g.[1] Several countries used both a light and a heavy pound.
Dedicated use: # gold ∆ silver § jewels † apothecaries' ‡ silk @ spices, drugs and pigments ¥ commercial ¢ oil ship cargoes: ∑ grain flour etc © salt
1 grano (grain) = 1⁄6912 libbra [1][2] Lombardy–Venetia1 denaro#∆ = 24 grani [28] 1 denaro€ = 10 grani [28] Milan1 grano∆‡ (a.k.a. denaro) = 50.998 mg [22] 1 grano€ = 1 dg [1] Venice1 marco = 238.499 g [29] TriesteAustrian, but not part of Lombardy-Venetia. 1 funto (–1858) = 1 Wiener Pfund [33] |
Modena1 oncia = 16 ferlini [13] Naples1 scrupolo† = 20 accini [14] Sicily1 taro = 20 grani [35] Palermo1 libbra = 12 once = 317 g [9] |
Papal States1 denaro = 24 grani [36] Rome1 denaro∆¥ = 24 grani = 1.178 g [22] Ancona1 libbra = 0.7277 [36] Bologna1 carato = 4 grani [36] Ferrara1 ferlino = 10 carati = 1.80 g [38] Parma1 denaro = 24 grani [20] |
Sardinia1 grano‡ = 53.363 mg [22] Piedmont1 grano = 24 granotini [21] Turin1 grano = 24 granotini [21] Genoa1 denaro = 24 grani [21] Cagliari1 libbra di commercio¥ = 406.563 g [30] Tuscany1 denaro = 24 grani [23] FlorenceLucca1 libbra = 334.5 g [30] |
Area
Dedicated use: # architect's
1 giornata (a.k.a. quadrao) = 38 are [1] Lombardy–Venetia1 tornatura = 100 palmi2 = 1 are [5] Lombardy1 tavola = 4 trabucchi quadri [41] Venetia1 migliajo = 1000 passi quadrati = 3022.99 m2 [41] |
Modena1 cavezzo2 = 36 piedi2 [13] Naples1 canna quadrata (centesimo) = 6.999 m2 [16] Sicily1 canna (quartiglio) = 4.263 m2 [16] |
Papal States1 scorzo = 28 catene agrimensorie [41] Parma1 staro = 12 tavola [20] |
SardiniaPiedmont1 giornata = 100 pertica2 = 0.9393 acre [21] Tuscany1 saccato = 16500 braccia2 = 1.389 acre [23] |
Volume (dry)
Dry and wet capacity (volume) were usually two separate systems, but a few units were universally handled, mostly in countries that had had experience with the metric system. (One of the sources do not state what subsystem they are handling).[12]
Dedicated use: # firewood † grain ‡ salt ∆ oats and legumes ∑ coal
One mina varied from 12 to 120 litres.[1] Lombardy–Venetia1 pinta€ = 10 coppi = 1 litre [5] Venice1 moggio = 8 mezzeni = 333.3 litres [9] Milan1 moggio = 8 stala = 146.2 litres [9] 1 coppo€ = 1 dl [1] Modena |
Naples1 quarto (–1840) = 6 misuri [45] Sicily1 salma generale = 7.8 bushels [17] Palermo |
Papal States1 scorzo = 4 quartucci [19] Rome1 decina†‡ = 4.601 l [37] Ancona1 rubbio = 7.974 bushels [36] Bologna1 quarterone = 4 quarticini [36] Parma1 mina = 8 quarteroli [20] |
SardiniaPiedmont1 coppo† = 2.876 l [40] Turin1 copello = 20 cucchiari [21] Genoa1 gombetta = 4 misurette = 1.21 l [49] Tuscany1 quartuccio = 2 bussoli [23] Florence1 moggio = 8 sacca = 584.7 litres [9] |
Volume (liquids)
There are also a unit cantara:[27] no specifics.
Dedicated use: # wine † spirits ‡ oil
1 barile da vino# = 45.6 l [1] Lombardy–Venetia1 pinta€ = 10 coppi = 1 litre [5] Venice1 quartuccio = 4 gotti = 670.7 ml [12] 1 barile#† = 24 bozze = 64.386 l [50] Milan1 mezzo = 2 zaine (bicchieri) = 393.5 ml [51] 1 coppo€ = 1 dl [1][40] Trieste1 boccale = 1.83 l [52] Modena1 fiasco = 2 boccali = 0.55028 gallon [13] Naples1 barile#† = 60 caraffi [14] Sicily1 quartuccio = 4 bicchieri = 0.8597 l [12] |
Papal States1 foglietta = 4 quartucci [19] Rome1 fogliette = 4 quartucci [51] Ancona1 soma = 18.49 gallons [19] Bologna1 foglietta# = 327 ml [56] |
ParmaSee Lombardy–Venetia and Milan.[20] SardiniaPiedmont1 boccale = 2 quartini [21][54] Turin1 boccale = 2 quartini [21] Genoa1 amola = 4 quarti = 0.8833 l [12] |
Tuscany1 mezzetta# = 2 quartucci [23] Florence1 boccale = 1.14 l [52] |
Notes
- Washburn 1926, p. 8.
- Cardarelli 2003, p. 87.
- Borgato 2006.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 2: Atomo, p. 102.
- Clarke 1891, p. 80.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 6: Fuß, p. 1018.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 5: Dito, p. 47.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 3: Braccio, p. 357.
- Cardarelli 2003, p. 88.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 12: Miglio, p. 80.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 4: Decimo, p. 655.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 11: Maße, p. 1024c.
- Clarke 1891, p. 52.
- Clarke 1891, p. 53.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 4: Decima, p. 655.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 3: Canna, p. 836.
- Clarke 1891, p. 69.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 4: Corda, p. 324.
- Clarke 1891, p. 63.
- Clarke 1891, p. 58.
- Clarke 1891, p. 67.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 4: Denaro, p. 730.
- Clarke 1891, p. 76.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 7: Grano, p. 865.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 14: Quarto, p. 371.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 14: Quintale, p. 398.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 3: Cantaro, p. 842.
- Clarke 1891, p. 81.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 11: Marco, p. 908.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 11: Libbra, p. 311.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 14: Rubbio, p. 974.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 13: Peso, p. 720.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 3: Centinajo, p. 954.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 14: Rotolo, p. 954.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 13: Onza, p. 190.
- Clarke 1891, p. 64.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 4: Decina, p. 655.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 6: Ferlino, p. 305.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 12: Mina, p. 338.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 4: Coppo, p. 321.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 12: Morgen, p. 529.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 12: Morgen, p. 530.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 7: Giornata, p. 584.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 16: Soma, p. 84.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 12: Mezzetta, p. 257.
- Clarke 1891, p. 54.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 5: Emine, p. 740.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 15: Sacco, p. 46.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 7: Gombetta, p. 750.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 2: Barile, p. 473.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 12: Mezzo, p. 257.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 3: Boccale, p. 152.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 3: Brenta, p. 460.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 13: Pinta, p. 942.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 6: Fiasco, p. 404.
- Meyers Konversations-Lexikon vol 6: Foglietta, p. 607.
References
Borgato, Maria Teresa (6–9 September 2006). "The first applications of the metric system in Italy" (PDF). The Global and the Local:The History of Science and the Cultural Integration of Europe. Proceedings of the 2nd ICESHS. Cracow, Poland: The Press of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1. Cardarelli.
Clarke, F. W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company.
"Atomo". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 2 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 102.
"Barile" [Barrel]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 2 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 473.
"Boccale". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 3 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 152.
"Braccio" [Ell]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 3 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 357.
"Brenta". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 3 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 460.
"Canna". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 3 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 836.
"Cantaro" [Hundredweight]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 3 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 842.
"Centesimo". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 3 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 954.
"Centinajo". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 3 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 954.
"Coppo" [Cup]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 4 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 321.
"Corda". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 4 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 324.
"Decima". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 4 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 655.
"Decimo". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 4 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 655.
"Decina". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 4 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 655.
"Denaro". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 4 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 730.
"Dito". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 5 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 47.
"Emine". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 5 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 740.
"Ferlino". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 6 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 305.
"Fiasco". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 6 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 404.
"Foglietta". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 6 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 607.
"Fuß" [Foot]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 6 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 1018.
"Giornata" [Acre]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 7 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 584.
"Gombetta". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 7 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 750.
"Grano" [Grain]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 7 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 865.
"Libbra" [Pound]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 11 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 311.
"Marco". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 11 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 908.
"Maße" [Units of measurement]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 11 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 1024c.
"Meta". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 12 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 190.
"Mezzetta". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 12 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 257.
"Mezzo". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 12 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 257.
"Miglio" [Mile]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 12 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 80.
"Mina". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 12 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 338.
"Morgen" [Acre]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 12 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897.
"Onza". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 13 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 190.
"Palmo" [Handsbreath]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 13 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 448.
"Peso". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 13 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 720.
"Pinta" [Pint]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 13 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 942.
"Quarto". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 14 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 371.
"Quintale" [Quintal]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 14 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 398.
"Rotolo". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 14 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 954.
"Rubbio". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 14 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 974.
"Sacco" [Sack]. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 15 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 46.
"Soldo". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 16 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 73.
"Soma". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 16 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 84.
"Talandon". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). 16 (5th ed.). Leipzig and Vienna: Bibliographisches Institut. 1897. p. 660.
Washburn, E. W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. p. 8. international critical tables 1926.