Why is time divided into parts of 60?

Posted on by Euphrates.

Have you ever wondered why an hour is divided into 60 parts?

Or why a minute is divided into 60 parts?

It could have been 10 or 100 and make it sound easier. Why was it made 60?

The origin of this system is attributed to one of the oldest civilisations of the world, the babylonian civilisation of Iraq. They used the Sexagesimal system, i.e to use 60 as the base, just like we use 10 now.

They also divided the day and night into 12hours each. As 12 was more easily divisible than 10. 12 is divisible by 2,3,4, but 10 is divisible only by 5 and 2. Same is the case with 60 where is divisible by lowest common factors 2,3,and 5 compared to that of 100.

This is also the reason why angles are divide by multiples of 60.

Published by Euphrates.

You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep the spring from coming.

14 thoughts on “Why is time divided into parts of 60?”

  2. And that just wasn’t good enough for the military, hehe. 1920 the navy adopted the 24 hour time, then shortly after—the army. It reduced confusion and possible errors at time of attack and important meetings.

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