Final answer:
The people of Mesopotamia created the division of a circle into 360 degrees, established the 60-second minute for timekeeping, and developed a complex arithmetic system that influenced ancient Mediterranean mathematics. Their scientific and mathematical advancements were interconnected with their engineering feats, such as building large irrigation systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contributions of Mesopotamia to Mathematics
The people of Mesopotamia made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, which are still felt in today's mathematical practices. Among their innovations was the division of a circle into 360 degrees, which is fundamental to the study of geometry. They also developed a timekeeping system that includes the 60-second minute, laying the groundwork for how we perceive time today. Additionally, their complex system of arithmetic was influential throughout the ancient Mediterranean world, and these mathematical advancements were integrated with their excellence in engineering, as demonstrated by the construction of massive irrigation systems and ziggurats. Their achievements in science and mathematics were recorded on clay tablets and in cuneiform writing, indicating not only their practical applications but also their cultural importance.