Ancient Babylonians pioneers in geometry

Washington

However, recent findings show ancient Babylonian astronomers were geometry masters at least 1400 years earlier. This change comes after a study was published on Thursday that analyzed four clay tablets dating from 350 to 50 BC featuring the wedge-shaped ancient Babylonian cuneiform script describing how to track the planet Jupiter’s path across the sky.

Calculated mastery

• Connection between velocity, time and distance, thought to have emerged around 1350, was already established by the ancient Babylonians   
• Babylon was an important city in ancient Mesopotamia, located in Iraq about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Baghdad 
• Its astronomers produced tablets computing positions of planets  
• Believed many things like river water levels, agricultural production and weather were connected to planetary positons
• Research says they applied geometry to calculate Jupiter’s journey across the night sky. Until now, it was assumed this technique was used in 14th century
• Horoscopes were cast based on their data on planetary movement  
• The four tablets, excavated around 1880, were stored at the British Museum in London
• Tablets contain geometrical calculations based on a trapezoid’s area, and its long and short sides, showing they were masters of geometry

“No one expected this,” said Mathieu Ossendrijver, a professor of history “This kind of connection between velocity, time and distance was thought to have emerged only around 1350

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