The big reason for 60 over 12 or 6 is the divisibility by 5. That makes it divisible by all numbers through the first 3 primes.
To get it divisible by all the numbers up to the next prime (7), you’d have to go to 420, and the one after that (11) you’d need to go to 27,720, and 13 would require a whopping 360,360.
The problem with base 60 is needing to know and remember instinctively the names, symbols, and relative positioning for 60 digits. Like, I love Babylon, they’re underrated for certain, but imagine teaching this to a 5 year old. Imagine doing calculus with this shit. Now remember that their writing impliment was a triangular reed and their written marks were entirely triangles and straight lines.
The big reason for 60 over 12 or 6 is the divisibility by 5. That makes it divisible by all numbers through the first 3 primes.
To get it divisible by all the numbers up to the next prime (7), you’d have to go to 420, and the one after that (11) you’d need to go to 27,720, and 13 would require a whopping 360,360.
The problem with base 60 is needing to know and remember instinctively the names, symbols, and relative positioning for 60 digits. Like, I love Babylon, they’re underrated for certain, but imagine teaching this to a 5 year old. Imagine doing calculus with this shit. Now remember that their writing impliment was a triangular reed and their written marks were entirely triangles and straight lines.
I knew a 26-letter alphabet by the time I was 2.