#history
An Ancient Timekeeping System.
About 5,000 years ago, the Sumerians living in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) revolutionised the way we perceive and measure time.
They developed a sophisticated numerical system based on the number 60, known as the gender system. This unique system led to the division of an hour into 60 minutes and a minute into 60 seconds, concepts that are still in use today.
The Sumerian need for precise timekeeping was driven by their agricultural society. Accurate calendars were essential for planting and harvesting crops. They also had to coordinate their complex religious ceremonies and administrative activities.
The Sumerians made significant advances in astronomy to help them keep time. They observed the movements of celestial bodies and used this information to create a 12-month lunar calendar closely aligned with the agricultural seasons.
Dividing the day into 24 hours, each hour into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds was a tremendous achievement. These divisions were not arbitrary, but were designed to be practical and easily divisible, reflecting the Sumerians’ advanced understanding of mathematics.
This innovative approach to time had a profound influence on later civilizations, including the Babylonians, Greeks and Romans, who adopted and further developed the Sumerian system. The legacy of the Sumerians’ timekeeping system is evident in our modern clocks and calendars, demonstrating the enduring impact of their ingenuity on our daily lives.
