The early farmers counted 12 moon cycles

I can't think of a way to make it much easier. They measured their year (from one spring to the next) by counting 12 complete phases of the moon (from full moon to full moon).

Thanks, Mister, for your interpretation.

In the interests of truth, does it mean "The early farmers learned/knew there were 12 moon cycles by counting?"

They simply counted.

Plant the field.

One full moon.

Two full moons.

Three full moons.

.

.

.

Twelve full moons. Time to plant again.

First they learned it; then they knew it. By this time they had known it for a long time, and were just counting the moons, like you count the days until the weekend.

Thanks, GG and Mister, for your help.

I get it now.

AngliholicThe early farmers counted 12 moon cycles from spring to spring when they planted crops. They made this 12-moon cycle into one year, which led to a 354-day lunar calender.

Hi Angliholic

It should be calendar.

What does the line in bold indicate ... ?

The early farmers noticed that the moon went through its phases 12 times between one spring planting season and the next.

CJ

CalifJim

What does the line in bold indicate ... ?

The early farmers noticed that the moon went through its phases 12 times between one spring planting season and the next.

CJ

Thanks, Jim, for the clear equivalent.

Got it.

By the way, in the interests of truth, I also notice that you use phases

The phases of the moon are such things as new moon, crescent moon, half moon, full moon, etc.
To go through all the phases is to go though one cycle. So they are not synonyms. One phase is just part of one cycle. And period is not a synonym for either phase or cycle. A period is just a length of time -- although I believe maybe the length of time of one cycle of

Thanks, Jim, for the crystal clear reply.

I get it now. It's as clear as it ever gets.