This thesis studies the political dimensions of temporalizations. These temporalizations result from mental operations that carve durations in the weave of perceptions, memory, and imagination, and then articulate them for practical or reflexive purposes. Our work aims to understand the historical forms taken by these temporalizations and their intricate link with the modes of the exercise of power, from the establishment of the first public clocks in the 14th century to the “time offices” of the 20th century, through time standardization in the 19th century. Three temporal modes are distinguished: the rythmic scheme of alternate durations; the metric scheme of compared durations; and the synchronizing scheme. The historical manifestations of these modes partake in the governmentality of our society by acting on the practices of individuals, groups, and populations.