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Ancient Babylonians pioneers in geometry
Until now, it was thought that medieval European scholars were the masters when it came to using sophisticated geometric techniques
By
migrator
migrator
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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