# Step (unit)

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_(unit)
> Source revision: 1325935448
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{{Short description|Roman unit of length}}
A '''step''' ({{langx|la|gradus}}, <small>{{abbr|pl.|plural}}</small>&nbsp;''{{lang|la|gradūs}}'') was a [Roman](/source/Ancient_Rome) [unit](/source/Roman_units) of [length](/source/units_of_length) equal to 2½&nbsp;[Roman feet](/source/Roman_feet) (''{{lang|la|pedes}}'') or ½&nbsp;[Roman pace](/source/Roman_pace) (''{{lang|la|passus}}''). Following its standardization under [Agrippa](/source/Marcus_Vipsanius_Agrippa), one step was roughly equivalent to {{convert|0.81|yd|sp=us|disp=or}}.

The '''[Byzantine](/source/Byzantine_units) pace''' ({{langx|grc|βήμα}}, ''bḗma'') was an adaption of the Roman step, a distance of 2½&nbsp;[Greek feet](/source/Greek_feet).{{refn|Schilbach,<ref>{{Citation |last=Schilbach |first=Erich |title=Byzantinische Metrologie}}. {{in lang|de}}</ref> cited by Ménage.<ref>{{Citation |first=V.L. |last=Ménage |contribution=Reviews: Speros Vryonis, Jr.: ''The decline of medieval Hellenism in Asia Minor and the process of islamization<!--sic--> from the eleventh through the fifteenth century.'' |title=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies |publisher=University of London |volume=36, No.&nbsp;3 |date=1973 |pages=659–661 |jstor=613605 }}.</ref>}}

Similarly, the [US](/source/US) [customary](/source/US_customary_units) '''[pace](/source/pace_(unit))''' is a distance of 2½&nbsp;[feet](/source/foot_(unit)) or [{{convert|30|in}}](/source/inch).

==See also==
* [Pace (unit)](/source/Pace_(unit))
* [Roman](/source/Roman_units) and [Byzantine units](/source/Byzantine_units)
* [US customary units](/source/US_customary_units)

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Units of length
Category:Ancient Roman units of measurement

{{Unit-measurement-stub}}
{{Ancient-Rome-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Step (unit)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_(unit)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_(unit)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.