The Origin of Zero

The Origin of Zero

Many civilations have claimed to have invented the number zero. Some of them are right. Actually, three main civilizations created the number zero: the Babylonians, the Mayans, and the Hindus. Surprisingly, the Romans were not on this list of civilizations that had discovered the number zero.

The Babylonians discovered the number zero during the 4th century (B.C.). They announced that this number was real and that it would help them in their everyday life. The strangeness of the idea of another number was so outlandish that the people never accepted it. But, even today, we use some of their discoveries of zero. For example: time. They found out that one minute consisted of sixty seconds and that one hour consisted of sixty minutes.

Between the 4th and 5th century (B.C.), the Mayan people discovered the number zero as well. This knowledge stayed within their civilization. When their culture died, their knowledge of the number zero died with it.

Later on, around 600 (A.D.), the Hindus discovered the number zero. Along with discovering this special number, they discovered position numbering (which they learned for India). Later on, during the 10th century, the Europeans caught drift that there was a new number and decided to study it. They changed up the figure system (position numbering) and we use this system to this day.