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2 years ago in Early Modern History By Kriya

I’m working with a 1659 Habsburg land survey. What was the exact length of a Spann unit in centimeters at that time and place?

My research involves recalculating historical land areas from Austrian archival records. The document uses Spann as a linear measure. I know these units varied locally and over time. For 1659, specifically within the core Habsburg territories (like Lower Austria), is there a standardized conversion to centimeters established by metrological studies? I need a reliable figure, or at least a defensible range, to ensure my area calculations are accurate.

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By Shubham Answered 1 year ago

From my experience with Habsburg land records, you must be exceptionally careful. There was no single, empire-wide Spann. However, for practical calculation in core German-speaking territories around 1659, most metrological studies—like those by Helmut Kahnt—use a standard conversion of 1 Wiener Spann (Viennese span) = approximately 21.2 to 22.5 cm. This was typically defined as the distance between the tips of the outstretched thumb and little finger of an adult man's hand. I strongly recommend you check for a local benchmark (Ruthtafel) mentioned in your document's preamble or consult a regional weights and measures ordinance from the period to confirm the specific Spann in use. Assuming the Wiener measure can introduce a significant margin of error.

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