Given that annual fluctuations in solar irradiation become less pronounced the closer you get to the equator, it might get less relevant to track time by referring to our position to the sun?
I don’t think so. Lunar calendars are just simply easier and more relevant to keep track of (eg, when to plant and when to harvest), so it made more sense to use those initially. Wasn’t it only like 500 years ago that Europe switched to a solar calendar? And that was primarily for religious reasons, iirc.
Not a history buff, but that was my impression.
But the moon cycles do not match the seasonal (solar) cycles no?
If you plant every six full moons, you end up planting in the winter at some point?
But then again, this only applies to higher latitudes.
Very interesting question.
