In 1337, the first mechanical clock was installed in the city of Milan, Italy. This innovative technology marked a significant advancement in timekeeping, allowing for more precise measurement of time than ever before. The mechanical clock not only transformed daily life but also influenced cultural practices, including poetry readings and public events, as people began to organize their lives around more accurate timekeeping.

The introduction of the mechanical clock had a profound impact on the structure of poetry and literature, as poets began to incorporate themes of time and temporality into their works. Notable poets like Petrarch, who would emerge later in the 14th century, reflected on the passage of time and its effects on human experience, paving the way for future literary explorations of time in poetry.