Babylonian Algebra

How could one state a general mathematical principle in a time before the development of algebra and algebraic notation?
Before algebra, people explained general ideas using words, examples, and rules. Instead of formulas, they described steps that worked in many situations.

Is mathematics all about generalization and abstraction?
Not always. Early math was practical and based on real problems. General ideas came later, after people noticed patterns across examples.

Thinking about various areas of mathematical knowledge -- number theory, geometries, calculus, graph theory, etc. etc. -- how could you imagine stating general or abstract relationships without algebra?

Through diagrams, shapes, tables, and repeated examples. Relationships could be shown through patterns and procedures rather than symbols.