Honestly a great case for "I have no idea why we chosen 60 as a random ass base for time "
Also im aware that base is not the proper term in this case since the base is still 10, but I have not idea how you would call the switch to the bigger unit treshhold
I’ve always assumed it’s because of the usefulness in its divisibility, with 60 able to be subdivided evenly in halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, and sixths, and because 24 is just 12x2 and 60 is just 12x5, that remains the case (save for fifths) for all subdivisions of the day in its 60/60/24 configuration.
My guess is that it’s simply an issue of working with something like a day, defined by cosmic forces rather than human sensibilities or control, where you don’t always get something that can be decimalized and still have useful units of time. I’ve done zero research on the actual reason, though, so that’s just a guess.
Also im aware that base is not the proper term in this case since the base is still 10, but I have not idea how you would call the switch to the bigger unit treshhold
Actually “base” is entirely the correct term in this case. The first group to write down a really systematic method for timekeeping were the Sumerians, and they used base-60 math. This worked really well with solar and lunar cycles, which were important for crop planting, and with astronomical studies (mapping the stars had major applications for both navigation and religion, so it was culturally significant). Empires that came after the Sumerians copied and expanded their system, so it eventually spread to everyone.
People like give shit to the US for not using the metric system (“you have 12 inches in a foot and 5,280 feet in a mile? how do you even remember that?”) but see no irony in using a random ass base for time (“it’s easy you just have 60 minutes in an hour and 24 hours in a day.”)
I actually developed a metric time for that reason, alongside with an International Fixed Calendar using the Holocene Era. It works on a libreoffice spreadsheet. The calendar itself isn’t metric, but it’s highly regular, and that makes it nice imo. The spreadsheet auto-updates the time once you edit the spreadsheet (put random character somewhere, remove). But I sadly don’t know how to put that on a working site or whatever, or as software…
I picked the Holocene Era because it’s globally actually relevant, and it’s not tied to a controversial figure (2026 being tied to Christ).
Basically, it’s right now, according to my calendar:
Year: 11’726
Month: 1
Week: 2
Day of year: 12
Hour: 8
Minute: 1
How does the calendar work?
There are 364 days in a year. There are 13 months of 28 days each, divided in weeks of 7 days. There are two additional days, New Year’s Eve and Leap Day. They don’t belong to any day of the week. (Religious groups that object, can just have an extra day of prayer, or use their own calendar). The extra month can be called Midsummer, or Solsticy. (Or just name the months “first, second month” and days likewise).
The first day after New Year’s Eve is the first day that days lengthen again in the North. That day will always be a Monday, starting the year proper.
How does the day work?
There are 100’000 seconds (instead of 86,400).
There are 10’000 tenths.
There are 1’000 minutes.
There are 100 quarters.
There are 10 hours.
And that is 1 day.
Left is new unit, right their old equivalent:
second: 0.864 old second
tenth: 8.64 old seconds
minute: 1.44 old minute (1 min, 26.4 sec)
quarter: 14.4 old minutes (14 min, 24 sec)
hour: 2.4 old hours (2 hr, 24 min)
Honestly a great case for "I have no idea why we chosen 60 as a random ass base for time "
Also im aware that base is not the proper term in this case since the base is still 10, but I have not idea how you would call the switch to the bigger unit treshhold
I’ve always assumed it’s because of the usefulness in its divisibility, with 60 able to be subdivided evenly in halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, and sixths, and because 24 is just 12x2 and 60 is just 12x5, that remains the case (save for fifths) for all subdivisions of the day in its 60/60/24 configuration.
My guess is that it’s simply an issue of working with something like a day, defined by cosmic forces rather than human sensibilities or control, where you don’t always get something that can be decimalized and still have useful units of time. I’ve done zero research on the actual reason, though, so that’s just a guess.
That’s essentially the correct answer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal
Oooh Sexagesimal. That’s hot.
Also why a circle is 360, lots whole number divisors.
Actually “base” is entirely the correct term in this case. The first group to write down a really systematic method for timekeeping were the Sumerians, and they used base-60 math. This worked really well with solar and lunar cycles, which were important for crop planting, and with astronomical studies (mapping the stars had major applications for both navigation and religion, so it was culturally significant). Empires that came after the Sumerians copied and expanded their system, so it eventually spread to everyone.
Fun fact you can count to 12 on one hand and 60 on two hands,bits how the Babylonians traded.
Is it possible to learn this power?
Edit: I can count to 9 on one hand and 99 on two hands. This is superior when using two hands, but 12 on one hand?
You can count to 31 on one hand and 1023 on two hands if you get really good at counting and adding with binary
One of the many reasons I made the switch.
People like give shit to the US for not using the metric system (“you have 12 inches in a foot and 5,280 feet in a mile? how do you even remember that?”) but see no irony in using a random ass base for time (“it’s easy you just have 60 minutes in an hour and 24 hours in a day.”)
I actually developed a metric time for that reason, alongside with an International Fixed Calendar using the Holocene Era. It works on a libreoffice spreadsheet. The calendar itself isn’t metric, but it’s highly regular, and that makes it nice imo. The spreadsheet auto-updates the time once you edit the spreadsheet (put random character somewhere, remove). But I sadly don’t know how to put that on a working site or whatever, or as software…
I picked the Holocene Era because it’s globally actually relevant, and it’s not tied to a controversial figure (2026 being tied to Christ).
Basically, it’s right now, according to my calendar:
Year: 11’726
Month: 1
Week: 2
Day of year: 12
Hour: 8
Minute: 1
How does the calendar work?
There are 364 days in a year. There are 13 months of 28 days each, divided in weeks of 7 days. There are two additional days, New Year’s Eve and Leap Day. They don’t belong to any day of the week. (Religious groups that object, can just have an extra day of prayer, or use their own calendar). The extra month can be called Midsummer, or Solsticy. (Or just name the months “first, second month” and days likewise).
The first day after New Year’s Eve is the first day that days lengthen again in the North. That day will always be a Monday, starting the year proper.
How does the day work?
There are 100’000 seconds (instead of 86,400).
There are 10’000 tenths.
There are 1’000 minutes.
There are 100 quarters.
There are 10 hours.
And that is 1 day.
Left is new unit, right their old equivalent:
second: 0.864 old second
tenth: 8.64 old seconds
minute: 1.44 old minute (1 min, 26.4 sec)
quarter: 14.4 old minutes (14 min, 24 sec)
hour: 2.4 old hours (2 hr, 24 min)
It works out relatively niftily, to be honest.
I’m always looking for a fun little project, I could dev that into a desktop app or website if you wanted.