In "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century," Barbara W. Tuchman discusses how people in the 14th century understood time primarily through the celestial movements of the sun and stars. These natural phenomena acted as reliable indicators, guiding daily activities and societal functions. Observations of the heavens were essential, as they were intimately connected to agricultural cycles and daily life.

This perspective highlights the deep relationship between humanity and nature during that era. Unlike more modern timekeeping methods, the reliance on astronomical movements reflects a worldview that valued harmony with the environment and underscores how closely people aligned their lives with the rhythms of the natural world.