This document provides an overview of the history of measurement. It discusses how early civilizations used parts of the body to measure things, with the Egyptians using cubits and digits, the Babylonians using minas, and the Chinese using chihs and shihs. Problems arose with this non-standard system, leading to standardized systems like the modern metric system. The document also outlines some key units in other historical systems like those used by the Romans, English, and the eventual development of the International System of Units.