The Intrigue of Time Division: Why One Hour Consists of 60 Minutes

A common question among many individuals is why one hour consists of 60 minutes, while one might wonder if 70 or 100 minutes would have been more practical. The acceptance of a decimal time system was soundly rejected, with 60 and 10 being suboptimal choices according to mathematicians who do not worship decimals.

Why 60?

One of the reasons the world embraced the division of time into 60 minutes rather than 70 or 100 minutes lies in the ease of division into equal blocks, especially thirds. This divisibility is particularly noticeable in the traditional English currency system, where 12 pennies made up a shilling, and 20 shillings made up a pound. The preference for 60 also stems from the historical influence of the Babylonian and Sumerian civilizations, who used a sexagesimal (base-60) counting system as early as 3500 BC.

Evolving Timekeeping

Babylonian Influence: The division of the hour into 60 minutes and minutes into 60 seconds is rooted in the Babylonian civilization, who used a sexagesimal system for mathematics and astronomy. This system was chosen because 360 days in a year (a number easily divisible by 60) was sufficient for practical human purposes. The use of 60 for time division has remained despite changes in technology and society.

Scientific Alternatives: There are indeed timekeeping systems based on 100, but these systems are primarily used in scientific contexts. For instance, the metric system introduced by the French Revolution, which briefly attempted a 10-hour day, 100-minute hour, and 100-second minute, did not gain widespread acceptance. This system, while innovative, was abandoned in favor of the existing system due to practicality and familiarity.

Global Consensus

Blame it on the historical influence of the Babylonians, who started this tradition with their base-60 math. Over time, the sexagesimal system has endured due to its inherent divisibility, making it a practical choice for time division. Despite efforts like those made by Napoleon to introduce a 10-hour day, the world has largely stayed with the traditional 24-hour day. This is partially due to the fact that a complete rotation of Earth on its axis takes approximately 24 hours, or one day, which fits neatly with the 60-minute structure.

Conclusion

From ancient Babylon to modern times, the division of an hour into 60 minutes has proven to be both practical and consistent with the natural division of time. While other systems have been proposed, the Babylonian legacy of the sexagesimal system has stood the test of time, providing a familiar and divisible structure for our daily routines and scientific measurements.

Key Takeaways:

60 is chosen for its divisibility and practicality. Babylonian influence led to the 60-minute concept. 24-hour days are based on Earth's rotation.

References:

Babylonian mathematics and astronomy. Historical timekeeping systems. Modern timekeeping and scientific bases.