A Brief History of Zero and Indian Numerals – Fjordman
I heard the claim from one European reader that “The Arab world invented the zero, and it’s been downhill ever since.” This is false, but unfortunately not an uncommon mistake. Our numeral system dates back to India during the post-Roman era, but it came to Europe via the medieval Middle East which is why these numbers are called “Arabic” numbers in many European languages. Yet even Muslims admit that they imported these numerals from India. Calling them “Arabic” numerals is this therefore deeply misleading. “Hindu-Arabic” number system could be accepted, but the preferred term should be “Indian numerals.”
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Me thinks the Semites dislike giving our Indian conceptualisers their long over Due credit.Simian jealousy perhaps?
In terms of direct filiation, our symbol for zero (as well as all our other numerals) comes straight from the Arabic numerals, introduced to Europeans by Fibonacci.
Revisionist resentment against Arabic culture aside, Indian numbering systems are indeed much older. But the advances in mathematics made by Arabic scientists and philosophers should certainly not be underestimated.