How did people tell the time in the past?

In the past, people used various methods to tell time, including sundials, which relied on the position of the sun's shadow. Water clocks, or clepsydras, measured time through the regulated flow of water. Hourglasses utilized sand to track time intervals, while mechanical clocks, developed in the Middle Ages, began to standardize timekeeping. These methods varied widely across cultures and regions, reflecting local practices and technological advancements.