What was the Babylonian view of the natural world and how did they explain it?

The ancient Babylonians viewed the natural world as a reflection of their gods and their activities. They believed that everything in the natural world was interconnected and controlled by the gods. The Babylonians saw the world as a flat disk floating in a sea of chaos, surrounded by a circular ocean called the Salt Sea.

Their explanations for natural phenomena were rooted in their religion and mythology. For instance, they believed that the stars were the physical embodiment of their gods, and that the movements of the stars and planets were directly linked to the actions of the gods. They also believed that the weather was controlled by the god Marduk, who had power over the winds and the rain.

The Babylonians were also skilled astronomers, and they developed a complex system for predicting the movement of celestial bodies. They observed the skies regularly and recorded their observations on clay tablets. Their observations allowed them to create accurate calendars, which they used for farming and religious festivals.

Their view of the natural world was deeply intertwined with their religious beliefs, and they saw the world as a manifestation of their gods. They believed that by understanding the natural world, they could better understand the will of their gods.