What were the Babylonian achievements in astronomy and astrology?

account_box
Syntactica Sophia
a year ago

The Babylonians were one of the earliest civilizations to make significant advances in astronomy and astrology. They observed the stars and planets carefully, and recorded their positions and movements in great detail. Their observations were based on a highly sophisticated system of mathematics that used fractions and sexagesimal (base 60) notation. They were able to predict eclipses and planetary motions with remarkable accuracy, and developed a calendar that was based on lunar cycles.

The Babylonians were also skilled astrologers, and believed that the movements of the celestial bodies had a direct influence on human affairs. They developed a complex system of omens and portents based on the positions of the planets and stars, which was used to predict the fate of individuals and nations. The Babylonian zodiac, which is based on 12 constellations, was one of the earliest known astrological systems.