The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero

Discussion in 'History' started by Michael, Jan 17, 2007.

  1. Michael

    Michael 歌舞伎 Valued Senior Member

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    The first evidence we have of zero is from the Sumerian culture in Mesopotamia, some 5,000 years ago. There, a slanted double wedge was inserted between cuneiform symbols for numbers, written positionally, to indicate the absence of a number in a place (as we would write 102, the '0' indicating no digit in the tens column).

    more here.....The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero


    There are a few good books out there on zero.
    Interesting stuff

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    Michael
     
    Michael, Jan 17, 2007
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  3. Michael

    Michael 歌舞伎 Valued Senior Member

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    Here are some early pre-Chinese O looking zeros

    The Babylonians

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    The Mayans

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    Michael, Jan 17, 2007
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  5. Michael

    Michael 歌舞伎 Valued Senior Member

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    Michael, Jan 17, 2007
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