The Babylonians used a base-60 (or sexagesimal) positional
numeral system borrowed from the
Sumerians.
Sixty was chosen due to its prime factorization[?] 2*2*3*5 which causes it to be divisible by numerous numbers, including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 20, and 30. Integers and fractions where represented identically -- a radix point was not explically written but rather made clear by context.
(TODO: Draw the numerals and include a graphic of 1-59)
Sexagesimals still survive to this day, in the form of degrees, minutes and seconds in trigonometry and time.
See also: Numeral system, Arabic numerals, Armenian numerals, Chinese numerals, Greek numerals, Hebrew numerals, Indian numerals, Mayan numerals, Roman numerals.
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