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The natural count -

Humans naturally count using a base-10 system, a process that is guided by the 10 fingers we have. This natural inclination has influenced many aspects of our numeric systems, but other number bases have also played essential roles in our history.

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Base-10 -

Our counting system's base-10 nature is evident in the way we handle mathematics and common calculations. Yet, despite our reliance on tens, there are numerous exceptions, like 60 seconds in a minute and 12-hour clocks.

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The importance of 12 -

The number 12 appears frequently in our timekeeping and calendar systems: 12 months in a year, a dozen eggs, and 24 hours divided into two sets of 12, as examples. This recurring use of 12 has ancient origins and also rather practical advantages.

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Origins of the dozen -

The significance of the dozen comes from one of humanity’s oldest civilizations: the Babylonians, who lived in Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago. Their numeral systems influenced how numbers like 12 and 60 became foundational in various parts of practical and cultural life.

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Mesopotamian significance -

Mesopotamia (located in present-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Kuwait) was a cradle of early civilization. It was there that people first documented complex systems like language and numerical calculations on clay tablets.

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Trading and mathematics -

The Babylonians’ focus on trade led them to develop robust mathematical systems. They needed numerals to calculate values and track transactions while trading, so they built one of the earliest known numeral systems.

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Base-60 -

Their numeral system was based on 60 rather than 10. Although this seems complex to us, the Babylonians had an efficient way of counting, using their fingers in a sophisticated manner to track numbers up to 60.

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Counting with fingers -

Each finger on a hand (excluding the thumb) has three bones. Using their thumb as a pointer, the Babylonians could count 12 on one hand. Using the other hand to track groups of 12, they could reach 60, which formed their base-60 system.

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Advantages -

The base-60 system allowed the Babylonians to create a structure that suited many natural and practical observations. They were able to measure time and create calendars (pictured) and units of measurement from their system.

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Timekeeping -

The division of time into 60 seconds per minute and 60 minutes per hour traces back to Babylonian calculations. Even though these measures were refined over time, their origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia.

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The 24-hour day -

Both the Babylonians and Egyptians contributed to our modern concept of time when they divided the day into 24 hours. After observing the patterns of the sun and moon, they split daylight and nighttime into 12 hours each.

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Lunar cycles -

Ancient civilizations, including the Babylonians, used lunar cycles to measure time. The moon goes through 12 cycles of roughly 30 days each in a year, leading to a 12-month calendar that we still use today.

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Prominence -

The number 12 became prominent because it aligns with natural phenomena, like lunar cycles. Many early civilizations, recognizing its usefulness, gave it a special place in their number systems and cultural practices.

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Factors of 60 -

Numbers like 12, 30, and 360 are also factors of 60, which means that they can be cleanly divided without any decimals. This made calculations easier for the Babylonians, and the system influenced how they measured angles, divided circles, and mapped the stars.

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Circles -

The concept of dividing a circle into 360 degrees comes from Babylonian practices. They used geometry reasoning to divide circles into 360 equal triangles, each of which represented one degree.

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Mapping the stars -

Babylonian advancements in mapping the stars, measuring land, and observing celestial bodies also relied on their base-60 system. These methods laid the groundwork for later developments in astronomy and geometry.

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The spread of knowledge -

Despite the fall of the Babylonian Empire, their numerical and scientific systems persisted. Their methods influenced subsequent civilizations like the Persians (pictured), Greeks, and Romans, who carried them forward.

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Empires -

The transfer of Babylonian knowledge was facilitated by empires conquering and collapsing. With each new empire, traditions and mathematical insights were passed on, eventually becoming embedded in various cultures.

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Roman influence -

The Roman Empire’s significant influence over Europe meant that many ancient traditions, including numerical and timekeeping practices, were preserved. As the Roman Empire evolved into medieval Europe, these traditions endured.

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Convenience -

Unlike the number 10 (which can only be evenly divided by 2 and 5), the number 12 is divisible by several numbers (2, 3, 4, and 6). This makes it an incredibly practical digit for splitting quantities into even parts.

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Indo-Arabic numeral system -

The number system we use today, called the Indo-Arabic numeral system, originated in India, spread through the Arab world, and eventually reached Europe. Its widespread adoption occurred less than 500 years ago.

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Arrival in Europe -

The Indo-Arabic numeral system reached Europe in the 12th century and became widely used by the 15th century. Its spread was aided by centuries of cultural and scholarly exchange between different regions.

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Traditions and the dozen -

Even as the Indo-Arabic numeral system gained popularity, the cultural and historical roots of the dozen endured. This combination of history and convenience explains why we continue using dozens today (such as the number of eggs in a carton).

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A baker’s dozen -

A baker’s dozen, which is 13 rather than 12, emerged from historical practices in 13th-century England. Bakers added an extra loaf to avoid penalties for shortchanging customers with underweight bread.

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Currency -

Before the decimal was adopted into British currency in 1971, the sterling currency was divided into pounds, shillings, and pence that used the base-12 system. One pound was equal to 240 pence, while a shilling was made up of 12 pence.

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Decimal system -

Over time, the decimal system overshadowed the base-12 system, but vestiges of this older system can still be seen today. Clocks are still divided into 12 parts, the measurement of a foot is divided into 12 inches, there are 12 ounces in a pound, and a dozen is also made up of 12.

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Legacy -

Whether for practical reasons or historical legacy, the number 12 remains a significant and useful unit in modern society. In a blend of convenience and tradition, it has cemented its place in our culture and reflects thousands of years of human ingenuity.

Sources: (Britannica) (CBC) (BBC) (Medium)

See also: The number 13—conspiracies and questions about luck

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