WORLD CIVILIZATION

Detailed explanation-1: -Sexagesimal, also known as base 60 or sexagenary, is a numeral system with sixty as its base. It originated with the ancient Sumerians in the 3rd millennium BC, was passed down to the ancient Babylonians, and is still used-in a modified form-for measuring time, angles, and geographic coordinates.

Detailed explanation-2: -The theory is that the Sumerian and Babylonians were keen on the number 60 because 60 has many factors, including the first six numbers, one to six, but also 12, 15, 20, 30. This meant dividing by 60 often gives easy fractions. Much easier than say, the numbers 13 or 17.

Detailed explanation-3: -The number of seconds in a minute-and minutes in an hour-comes from the base-60 numeral system of ancient Mesopotamia. Developed around 3100 B.C., the sexagesimal system, as it is known, has fallen out of favor but is still used (with slight adjustments) to measure time and angles.

Detailed explanation-4: -“Supposedly, one group based their number system on 5 and the other on 12. When the two groups traded together, they evolved a system based on 60 so both could understand it.” That’s because five multiplied by 12 equals 60. The base 5 system likely originated from ancient peoples using the digits on one hand to count.