The ancient Babylonians were incredible innovators, leaving a lasting mark on human civilization. The ancient Babylonian period ran from about 2000 BCE to 540 BCE. Their inventions and discoveries continue to shape our world, even thousands of years later. From mathematics to timekeeping, these brilliant minds laid the groundwork for many tools and concepts we use daily. You’ll be amazed by just how much we rely on ancient Babylonian inventions in our modern lives.
The 60-Minute Hour
Ever wondered why we divide our hours into 60 minutes? Thank the Babylonians! They used a number system based on 60, which we call sexagesimal. This system was perfect for dividing time and measuring angles. The Babylonians split the day into 24 hours, with each hour containing 60 minutes. This efficient way of tracking time has stuck with us for over 4,000 years, proving just how practical their thinking was.
The 7-Day Week
Our modern calendar owes a lot to the ancient Babylonians. They created the seven-day week, associating each day with one of the seven celestial bodies they could see with the naked eye. This included the sun, moon, and five visible planets. The Babylonians believed these celestial bodies influenced earthly events, leading to the creation of a weekly cycle that has endured to this day.
The Lunar Calendar
Babylonians were keen observers of the night sky. They noticed the moon’s regular cycle and used it to create a lunar calendar. This calendar had 12 months, each starting with the new moon. While we’ve shifted to a solar calendar for most purposes, many cultures still use lunar calendars for religious and cultural events. The concept of months itself comes from this ancient Babylonian innovation.
Astrology
While modern science has debunked astrology, its influence on culture remains strong. The Babylonians invented astrology, believing that the positions of celestial bodies could predict earthly events. They divided the sky into 12 sections, creating the zodiac signs we know today. Even though we now understand that stars don’t determine our fate, millions of people still read their horoscopes, carrying on this ancient Babylonian tradition.
The Sundial
Keeping track of time during the day was important to the Babylonians. They invented the sundial, a simple yet effective tool that uses the sun’s position to tell time. By placing a vertical stick in the ground and marking the shadow’s position throughout the day, they created a reliable timekeeping device. While we now have more accurate clocks, sundials can still be found in gardens and parks worldwide, reminding us of this ancient innovation.
Multiplication Tables
If you’ve ever struggled with math, you might be surprised to learn that multiplication tables date back to ancient Babylon. Babylonian students memorized these tables, much like modern students do. They created clay tablets with multiplication problems and solutions, some of which have survived to this day. These ancient study aids show that the basics of math education haven’t changed much in thousands of years.
The Wheel With Spokes
While the wheel itself was invented earlier, the Babylonians improved its design by adding spokes. This made wheels lighter and stronger, revolutionizing transportation and construction. Spoked wheels allowed for faster chariots and more efficient carts for moving goods. Today, spoked wheels are still used in bicycles and some car designs, showing the lasting impact of this Babylonian innovation.
Glazed Bricks
The Babylonians were master builders who invented glazed bricks. They would coat bricks with a glass-like substance and fire them in kilns, creating colorful, durable building materials. These glazed bricks were used to decorate important buildings and create intricate mosaics. Today, we still use glazed tiles in our homes, carrying on this ancient tradition of combining beauty with functionality in construction.
Soap
Believe it or not, the Babylonians invented soap! They discovered that combining animal fats with wood ash created a substance that could clean things. This early soap was mainly used for cleaning wool and cotton in preparation for weaving, but it paved the way for the personal hygiene products we use today. While our soaps are more refined, the basic principle remains the same as this ancient Babylonian invention.
Maps
The oldest known map was created by the Babylonians around 2300 BCE. It was carved into a clay tablet and showed the kingdom of Sargon of Akkad. The Babylonians continued to develop mapmaking, creating more detailed and accurate representations of their world. Today, we still rely on maps, though they’re often digital. The basic concept of visually representing geographic areas, pioneered by the Babylonians, remains crucial in our daily lives.
Banking
The Babylonians developed a sophisticated banking system that laid the groundwork for modern finance. They introduced the concepts of loans, interest, and written contracts for financial transactions. Temples often acted as banks, storing valuables and providing loans. While our banking system is much more complex today, these fundamental ideas of lending and borrowing money originated in ancient Babylon.
Written Law Codes
The Babylonian king Hammurabi created one of the world’s first written law codes. This code covered everything from property rights to family law and set punishments for various crimes. While many of Hammurabi’s laws seem harsh by today’s standards, the idea of a written code of laws that applies to everyone was revolutionary. This concept forms the basis of legal systems worldwide, showing how Babylonian ideas continue to shape our societies.
Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.
