Ancient Sumerians shaped our clocks and compasses
Ancient Sumerians pioneered a base-60 math system, which led to our 60-minute hours and 360-degree circles, demonstrating their enduring impact on modern measurements.
The ancient Sumerians, around 3000 BCE, developed a base-60 math system, called sexagesimal notation. This ingenious system, unlike our base-10, made calculations easier because 60 divides neatly by many numbers. This allowed for precise divisions without decimals, proving vital for their astronomy and record-keeping.
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