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Added footnotes and corrected an error regarding Chichorro's report
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'''Portuguese customary units''' were used in [[Portugal]], [[Brazil]] and other parts of the [[Portuguese Empire]] until the adoption of the [[metric system]] in the 19th century.
'''Portuguese customary units''' were used in [[Portugal]], [[Brazil]] and other parts of the [[Portuguese Empire]] until the adoption of the [[metric system]] in the 19th century.


The official system of units in use in Portugal from the 16th to the 19th century was the system introduced by king [[Manuel I of Portugal|Manuel I]] around 1499-1504. The most salient aspect of this reform was the distribution of bronze weight standards (nesting weight piles) to the towns of the kingdom. The reform of weights is unparalleled in Europe until this time, due to the number of distributed standards (hundreds), the size (64 to 256 marcs) and the elaborate decoration.
The official system of units in use in Portugal from the 16th to the 19th century was the system introduced by king [[Manuel I of Portugal|Manuel I]] around 1499-1504 <ref>Seabra Lopes, 2003</ref><ref>Seabra Lopes, 2018a</ref> <ref>Seabra Lopes, 2019</ref>. The most salient aspect of this reform was the distribution of bronze weight standards (nesting weight piles) to the cities and towns of the kingdom. The reform of weights is unparalleled in Europe until this time, due to the number of distributed standards (132 are identified), their sizes (64 to 256 marks) and their elaborate decoration.


In 1575, king [[Sebastian of Portugal|Sebastian]] distributed bronze standards of capacity measures to the main towns. The number of distributed standards was smaller and uniformity of capacity measures was never achieved.
In 1575, king [[Sebastian of Portugal|Sebastian]] distributed bronze standards of capacity measures to the main towns <ref>Seabra Lopes, 2003</ref>. The number of distributed standards was smaller and uniformity of capacity measures was never achieved.


⚫
The first proposal for the adoption of the decimal metric system in Portugal appears in Chichorro's report on weights and measures (''Memória sobre Pesos e Medidas'', 1795 <ref>Seabra Lopes, 2018b</ref>). Two decades later, in 1814, Portugal was the second country in the world – after France itself – to officially adopt the metric system <ref>Paixão et al., 2006</ref>. The system then adopted reused the names of the Portuguese traditional units instead of the original French names (e.g.: ''vara'' for ''metre''; ''canada'' for ''litre''; and ''libra'' for ''kilogram''). However, several difficulties prevented the implementation of the new system and the old Portuguese customary units continued to be used, both in Portugal and in Brazil (which became an independent country in 1822).
The first proposal for the adoption of the metric decimal system in Portugal appears in [[1795]], inserted in J. A. Bacelar Chichorro's report on the [[Portuguese economy]], which included a weights and measures chapter.

⚫
In 1814, Portugal was the second country in the world – after France itself – to officially adopt the metric system. The system then adopted used the names of the Portuguese traditional units instead of the original French names (e.g.: ''vara'' for metre; ''canada'' for litre; and ''libra'' for kilogram). However, several difficulties prevented the implementation of the new system and the old Portuguese customary units continued to be used, both in Portugal and in Brazil (which meanwhile became an independent country in 1822).


The metric system was finally adopted by Portugal and its remaining colonies in 1852, this time using the original names of the units. Brazil continued to use the Portuguese customary units until 1862, only then adopting the metric system.
The metric system was finally adopted by Portugal and its remaining colonies in 1852, this time using the original names of the units. Brazil continued to use the Portuguese customary units until 1862, only then adopting the metric system.
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* Seabra Lopes, L. (2003) [https://www.academia.edu/25638705/_Sistemas_Legais_de_Medidas_de_Peso_e_Capacidade_do_Condado_Portucalense_ao_Século_XVI_Portugalia_Nova_Série_vol._24_2003_p._113-164 "Sistemas Legais de Medidas de Peso e Capacidade, do Condado Portucalense ao Século XVI"], ''Portugalia: Nova Série'', XXIV, Faculdade de Letras, Porto, p. 113-164.
* Seabra Lopes, L. (2003) [https://www.academia.edu/25638705/_Sistemas_Legais_de_Medidas_de_Peso_e_Capacidade_do_Condado_Portucalense_ao_Século_XVI_Portugalia_Nova_Série_vol._24_2003_p._113-164 "Sistemas Legais de Medidas de Peso e Capacidade, do Condado Portucalense ao Século XVI"], ''Portugalia: Nova Série'', XXIV, Faculdade de Letras, Porto, p. 113-164.
* Seabra Lopes, L. (2005) [https://www.academia.edu/25638886/_A_Cultura_da_Medição_em_Portugal_ao_Longo_da_História_Educação_e_Matemática_no_84_2005_p._42-48 "A Cultura da Medição em Portugal ao Longo da História"], ''Educação e Matemática'', nº 84, Setembro-Outubro de 2005, p. 42-48.
* Seabra Lopes, L. (2005) [https://www.academia.edu/25638886/_A_Cultura_da_Medição_em_Portugal_ao_Longo_da_História_Educação_e_Matemática_no_84_2005_p._42-48 "A Cultura da Medição em Portugal ao Longo da História"], ''Educação e Matemática'', nº 84, Setembro-Outubro de 2005, p. 42-48.
* Seabra Lopes, L. (2018) [https://www.academia.edu/38016658/_As_Pilhas_de_Pesos_de_Dom_Manuel_I_Contributo_para_a_sua_Caracterização_Inventariação_e_Avaliação_Portugalia_Nova_Série_vol._39_Universidade_do_Porto_2018_p._217-251 "As Pilhas de Pesos de Dom Manuel I: Contributo para a sua Caracterização, Inventariação e Avaliação", ''Portugalia: Nova Série''], vol. 39, Universidade do Porto, p. 217-251; a German translation of this paper is published as: [https://www.academia.edu/39751563/_Die_Einsatzgewichte_König_Manuels_I_Ein_Beitrag_zu_ihrer_Beschreibung_Bestandsaufnahme_und_Gewichtsbestimmung_Maβ_und_Gewicht_Zeitschrift_für_Metrologie_nr._130_2019_p._4078-4109 "Die Einsatzgewichte König Manuels I: Ein Beitrag zu ihrer Beschreibung, Bestandsaufnahme und Gewichtsbestimmung"], ''Maβ und Gewicht: Zeitschrift für Metrologie'', nr. 130, 2019, p. 4078-4109
* Seabra Lopes, L. (2018a) [https://www.academia.edu/38016658/_As_Pilhas_de_Pesos_de_Dom_Manuel_I_Contributo_para_a_sua_Caracterização_Inventariação_e_Avaliação_Portugalia_Nova_Série_vol._39_Universidade_do_Porto_2018_p._217-251 "As Pilhas de Pesos de Dom Manuel I: Contributo para a sua Caracterização, Inventariação e Avaliação", ''Portugalia: Nova Série''], vol. 39, Universidade do Porto, p. 217-251; a German translation of this paper is published as: [https://www.academia.edu/39751563/_Die_Einsatzgewichte_König_Manuels_I_Ein_Beitrag_zu_ihrer_Beschreibung_Bestandsaufnahme_und_Gewichtsbestimmung_Maβ_und_Gewicht_Zeitschrift_für_Metrologie_nr._130_2019_p._4078-4109 "Die Einsatzgewichte König Manuels I: Ein Beitrag zu ihrer Beschreibung, Bestandsaufnahme und Gewichtsbestimmung"], ''Maβ und Gewicht: Zeitschrift für Metrologie'', nr. 130, 2019, p. 4078-4109
* Seabra Lopes, L. (2018) [https://www.academia.edu/39331643/_A_Metrologia_em_Portugal_em_Finais_do_Século_XVIII_e_a_Memória_sobre_Pesos_e_Medidas_de_José_de_Abreu_Bacelar_Chichorro_1795_Revista_Portuguesa_de_História_vol._49_2018_p._157-188 A Metrologia em Portugal em Finais do Século XVIII e a 'Memória sobre Pesos e Medidas' de José de Abreu Bacelar Chichorro (1795)], ''Revista Portuguesa de História'', vol. 49, 2018, p. 157-188.
* Seabra Lopes, L. (2018b) [https://www.academia.edu/39331643/_A_Metrologia_em_Portugal_em_Finais_do_Século_XVIII_e_a_Memória_sobre_Pesos_e_Medidas_de_José_de_Abreu_Bacelar_Chichorro_1795_Revista_Portuguesa_de_História_vol._49_2018_p._157-188 A Metrologia em Portugal em Finais do Século XVIII e a 'Memória sobre Pesos e Medidas' de José de Abreu Bacelar Chichorro (1795)], ''Revista Portuguesa de História'', vol. 49, 2018, p. 157-188.
* Seabra Lopes, L. (2019) [https://www.academia.edu/41383287/_The_Distribution_of_Weight_Standards_to_Portuguese_Cities_and_Towns_in_the_Early_16th_Century_Administrative_Demographic_and_Economic_Factors_Finisterra_Revista_Portuguesa_de_Geografia_vol._54_112_Centro_de_Estudos_Geográficos_Lisboa_2019_p._45-70 The Distribution of Weight Standards to Portuguese Cities and Towns in the Early 16th Century: Administrative, Demographic and Economic Factors], ''Finisterra'', vol. 54 (112), Centro de Estudos Geográficos, Lisboa, p. 45-70.
* Silva Lopes, João Baptista da (1849) ''Memoria sobre a Reforma dos Pezos e Medidas em Portugal segundo o Sistema Metrico-Decimal'', Imprensa Nacional, Lisboa.


== References ==
{{Reflist}}


{{systems of measurement}}
{{systems of measurement}}

Revision as of 16:09, 24 March 2020

King Manuel I, who fixed the country's measurement standards, in 1499-1504.

Portuguese customary units were used in Portugal, Brazil and other parts of the Portuguese Empire until the adoption of the metric system in the 19th century.

The official system of units in use in Portugal from the 16th to the 19th century was the system introduced by king Manuel I around 1499-1504 [1][2] [3]. The most salient aspect of this reform was the distribution of bronze weight standards (nesting weight piles) to the cities and towns of the kingdom. The reform of weights is unparalleled in Europe until this time, due to the number of distributed standards (132 are identified), their sizes (64 to 256 marks) and their elaborate decoration.

In 1575, king Sebastian distributed bronze standards of capacity measures to the main towns [4]. The number of distributed standards was smaller and uniformity of capacity measures was never achieved.

The first proposal for the adoption of the decimal metric system in Portugal appears in Chichorro's report on weights and measures (Memória sobre Pesos e Medidas, 1795 [5]). Two decades later, in 1814, Portugal was the second country in the world – after France itself – to officially adopt the metric system [6]. The system then adopted reused the names of the Portuguese traditional units instead of the original French names (e.g.: vara for metre; canada for litre; and libra for kilogram). However, several difficulties prevented the implementation of the new system and the old Portuguese customary units continued to be used, both in Portugal and in Brazil (which became an independent country in 1822).

The metric system was finally adopted by Portugal and its remaining colonies in 1852, this time using the original names of the units. Brazil continued to use the Portuguese customary units until 1862, only then adopting the metric system.

Route units

Portuguese name English name Subdivides in Equivalence in
Léguas de 20 ao grau 		Metric equivalence
Légua de 18 ao grau League of 18 to the degree 6173 m
Légua de 20 ao grau League of 20 to the degree 3 milhas geográficas 1 5555 m
Milha geográfica Geographical mile 1/3 1851 m

Length units

Portuguese name English name Subdivides in Equivalence in Varas Metric equivalence
Braça Fathom 2 varas 2 2.2 m
Toesa Toise 6 pés 14⁄5 1.98 m
Passo geométrico Geometrical pace 5 pés 11⁄2 1.65 m
Vara Yard 5 palmos 1 1.1 m
Côvado Cubit 3 palmos 3/5 0.66 m
Pé Foot 12 polegadas 3/10 0.33 m
Palmo de craveira Span 8 polegadas 1/5 0.22 m
Polegada Inch 12 linhas 1/40 27.5 mm
Linha Line 12 pontos 1/480 2.29 mm
Ponto Point 1/5760 0.19 mm

Weight units

Portuguese name English name Subdivides in Equivalence in Arráteis Metric equivalence
Tonelada Tonne 13.5 quintais 1728 793.152 kg
Quintal Hundredweight 4 arrobas 128 58.752 kg
Arroba Arroba 32 arráteis 32 14.688 kg
Arrátel Pound 4 quartas 1 0.459 kg
Marco Mark 8 onças 1/2 0.22950 kg
Quarta Fourth 4 onças 1/4 0.11475 kg
Onça Ounce 8 oitavas 1/16 28.6875 g
Oitava Dram 3 escrópulos 1/128 3.5859 g
Escrópulo Scruple 24 grãos 1/384 1.1953 g
Grão Grain 1/9216 0.0498 g

Liquid volume units (for Lisbon)

Portuguese name English name Subdivides in Equivalence in canadas Metric equivalence
Tonel Cask 2 pipas 600 840 l
Pipa Barrel 25 almudes 300 420 l
Almude 2 potes 12 16.8 l
Pote Pot 6 canadas 6 8.4 l
Canada 4 quartilhos 1 1.4 l
Quartilho Pint 2 meios quartilhos 1/4 0.35 l
Meio quartilho 1/8 0.175 l

See also

References


References

  1. ^ Seabra Lopes, 2003
  2. ^ Seabra Lopes, 2018a
  3. ^ Seabra Lopes, 2019
  4. ^ Seabra Lopes, 2003
  5. ^ Seabra Lopes, 2018b
  6. ^ Paixão et al., 2006
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