Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: SunkenCiv
It all depends on how loosely (or precisely) you define "a computer."

The abacus, the astrolabe, and the Antikythera mechanism all predate the Incan device by several centuries.

And men have counted on their fingers since Adam & Eve. Sumerians and Babylonians did arithmetic in sexagesimal (base 60) by using the five fingers on one hand to count the 12 joints on the other (which is why the metric system can't get rid of the 60-minute hour and the 60-second minute).

So it all depends on wherre you stick the pin and say this is a computer.

22 posted on 03/30/2026 4:25:42 AM PDT by Paal Gulli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: All
"...(which is why the metric system can't get rid of the 60-minute hour and the 60-second minute)...."

...as well as why there are 12 hours in each half-day (and 24 hours in a whole one).

25 posted on 03/30/2026 4:34:46 AM PDT by Paal Gulli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies ]

To: Paal Gulli

The Greek Antikythera device is over 2000 years old.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Antikythera-mechanism


27 posted on 03/30/2026 4:39:32 AM PDT by Blennos (This is the official Blennos tagline. Thanks to Big Red Badger. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson