As we all know, the basis of mathematical calculation is Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. Without these figures, we can't calculate. In fact, these Arabic numerals were not invented by Arabs, but originated in ancient India, and were later mastered, improved and spread to the west by Arabs, who called them Arabic numerals. Since then, the whole world has agreed with this statement.
Arabic numerals were gradually created by ancient Indians in their production practice.
In ancient India, urban construction needed design and planning, and sacrifices needed to calculate the movements of the sun, the moon and the stars, so mathematical calculation came into being. Around 3000 BC, the number of residents in the Indus Valley was relatively advanced, and the decimal calculation method was adopted.
By the third century BC, a complete set of numbers appeared in India, but the writing in different regions was not completely consistent. Brahmanism was the most representative: this set of numbers was widely used at that time. Its characteristic is that every number from "1" to "9" has a special word. Modern numbers are derived from this set of numbers. In this set of numbers, the symbol "0" (zero) has not yet appeared.
The number "0" did not appear until Gupta Dynasty (320-550 AD). The symbol "0" was already used in the mathematical book "The Manual of the Sun" completed in the 4th century A.D., when it was only a solid dot. Later, the dot evolved into a small circle "0".
In this way, a set of numbers from "1" to "0" tends to be perfect. This is the great contribution of the ancient Indian people to world culture.
Indian figures first spread to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia and other neighboring countries of India.
In the seventh and eighth centuries, the Arab Empire spanned Asia, Africa and Europe. While the Arab Empire expanded around, Arabs also absorbed the advanced cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, India and other countries and translated a large number of scientific works from these countries. In 77 1 A.D., an Indian traveler, Maoka, made a long journey to Baghdad, the capital of Abbasid Dynasty of Arab Empire. Maoka dedicated an Indian astronomical work "Sidanta" that he carried with him to the then caliph (king) Mansour. Mansour cherished the book very much and ordered the translator to translate it into Arabic. Translated into Sindh Sindh Sindh. This book uses a lot of Indian figures. As a result, Indian numbers were absorbed and adopted by Arabs.
Since then, Arabs have gradually given up the original 28 letters as a symbol of calculation, and widely used Indian numerals, and in practice, they have also modified and improved Indian numerals to make them easier to write.
When Arabs got hold of Indian figures, they soon introduced them to Europeans. It was very inconvenient for Europeans in the Middle Ages to use long Roman numerals when counting. Therefore, as soon as the simple and clear Indian figures spread to Europe, they were welcomed by Europeans. However, in the beginning, Indian numerals replaced Roman numerals, but they were strongly opposed by the Christian church because they came from the knowledge of "pagans". But practice has proved that the Indian figure is far superior to the Roman figure.
1202, Italy published an important mathematical book, The Book of Calculations, which widely used Indian numerals improved by Arabs, which marked the beginning of using new numerals in Europe. This book is divided into fifteen chapters. The first chapter reads: "The nine numbers in India are' 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1'. Any number can be represented by these nine numbers and the symbol' 0' called' zero' by Arabs. "
With the passage of time, China printing spread to Europe in the14th century, which accelerated the popularization and application of Indian numerals in Europe. Indian numbers are gradually adopted by all Europeans.
Westerners accepted the Indian figures from Arabia, but ignored the ancient Indians at that time and regarded them only as the achievements of Arabs, so they called them Arabic figures, which have been passed down to this day.