Sumerian Invention: Astronomy


October 6th, 2008 by admin

The Sumerian inventions’ unending list also comprises the invention of the calendar. The ancient Sumer had to yield crops much in excess of what he could consume in lack of calculations. The book keeping was also in lack of an efficient system of calculating long time periods.

Based on the cycle of the moon, the Sumerians invented the calendar which was divided into twelve months. Since a year consisting of twelve lunar months was shorter than a solar year, the Sumerians also added a ‘leap year’ every three years to catch up with the sun. Gradually, the Sumerians had developed a keen sense in abstract mathematics and astronomy.

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