9.11-Why base 60?

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 Speculative Phase:

When I think about why the Babylonians might have chosen base 60, one of the first things that comes to mind is how divisible the number 60 is. It can be division by so many numbers—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 30. This makes it really convenient for doing calculations, no matter odd numbers, even numbers, multiples of five. In comparison, base 10 is much simpler, but it only divides easily by 2, 5, and 10. Using 60 would have made dividing things like goods, land, or even time much easier and more precise.

I also think about how we still use 60 in modern life. For example, we divide an hour into 60 minutes and a minute into 60 seconds. Maybe they noticed patterns in the movements of the stars or planets that led them to use 60. In some ways, it reminds me of how the Chinese zodiac is based on a 60-year cycle, and the traditional 60-year cycle, known as the Ganzhi or sexagenary cycle, is used to track years. This system combines 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches, forming a complete cycle every 60 years. It's central to Chinese astrology and calendrical systems. This makes me wonder if the Babylonians' choice of 60 had something to do with time or astronomy, especially since they were known for being skilled astronomers.





Research Phase:

After looking into it, I found that many scholars agree that the Babylonian base 60 system likely came from their need to make complex calculations, especially in astronomy. The fact that 60 can be divided by so many numbers made it ideal for their mathematical work, particularly when they needed to handle fractions or divide things into smaller parts. This was especially useful for things like trade, land division, and timekeeping.

What’s interesting is that the influence of this system is still seen today. We divide circles into 360 degrees (a multiple of 60) and time into units of 60, like minutes and seconds. Some historians also believe that 60 might have had cultural or religious significance for the Babylonians, which could have contributed to their choice. All in all, their base 60 system wasn’t just practical for their time—it’s left a lasting legacy that we still rely on in the modern world.

 

Comments

  1. Erica HuangOctober 22, 2024 at 12:49 PM

    Great post, Nanxi! Good connection to the Chinese Ganzhi system, and the base 60 system is indeed still quite significant in our modern world.

    ReplyDelete

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