Final answer:
The sexagesimal system was pivotal for the Babylonians in math, calendars, astronomy, and commerce, providing a framework for temporal and geometric measurements that supported their society's regular and ritual activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sexagesimal (base 60) system developed by the Babylonians greatly benefited their civilization in numerical representation and calculation, calendar systems and timekeeping, astronomical observations and predictions, and trade and commerce. For instance, by dividing the circle into 360 degrees and a timekeeping system featuring 60-second minutes, they established foundational concepts for geometry and chronometry.
Moreover, their calendar system, informed by meticulous astral tracking, guided agricultural operations and ritual events, synchronizing them with seasonal cycles and heavenly events such as equinoxes and solstices.
This proficiency in mathematics and astronomy bolstered trade and commerce, as precise calculations were crucial for managing transactions and contracts. Temporal precision also allowed for the anticipation of natural phenomena like the flooding of the Nile, which was integral to agricultural planning. The combination of these innovations not only symbolized immense intellectual progress but also played a practical role in the everyday life and grandeur of the Babylonian empire.