Published on 11 August 2023 Updated on 19 March 2024
The number zero is a cornerstone of modern mathematics, technology, and the digital world. Its origins are rooted in the philosophical concepts of ancient South and Southeast Asia, and its journey to Western Europe is a fascinating tale of cultural exchange, scientific discovery, and technological advancement.
This article explores the evolution of zero, charting its journey from its origins in Indian space to its dissemination through the Arab world and, eventually, its arrival in Europe, where it revolutionised Western mathematics and laid the foundation for modern science and technology.
While there are other instances of the use of zero (see textbox below), our focus is on the direct lineage of zero from Asia, through the Mediterranean, to Europe, and beyond.
The use of the number zero, while widely associated with the Indian numeral system, has evolved independently in various numerical systems over time. Here’s a chronological overview of its presence in different civilisations, though the exact years are approximations:
2,000 BC – The Babylonian numerical system: Rooted in the base-60 system, the Babylonian mathematical approach is the precursor to our modern method of measuring time, with 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour. While the Babylonians did employ a placeholder concept, it wasn’t quite the zero we recognise today. Some sources suggest that a closer semblance to the number zero might have emerged in their system around the 3rd century BC.
200 BC – The Han Dynasty’s mathematical : ’Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art’ represents an early consolidation of Chinese mathematical thought. While a specific symbol for the number zero was absent, an empty position within a number essentially denoted zero, indicating its absence.
100 BC – The Maya mathematics: The Mayans introduced a glyph, resembling a shell, to symbolise zero. Notably, this glyph is evident on a stela found at the Chiapa de Corzo site in Mexico. Furthermore, the concept of zero was integral to the intricate Mayan Long Count calendar system.
This historical evolution underscores the universal need and recognition for a concept like zero, as societies grapple with mathematical and calendar challenges, leading to its independent inception in diverse parts of the world.
Zero in Ancient India
The concept of zero, termed ‘Shunya’ in Hindi, has deep roots in ancient Indian philosophical and religious traditions. ‘Shunyata’, often translated as ’emptiness’ or ‘void’, holds significant importance in Buddhism. The renowned philosopher Nagarjuna, active around the 2nd century CE, anchored Mahayana Buddhism on the principle of ’emptiness’, emphasising the interdependent existence of phenomena.
This philosophical understanding of ’emptiness’ or ‘void’ laid the groundwork for the mathematical adoption of the number zero. By the 6th century AD, prominent Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata and Brahmagupta had begun employing zero as a placeholder in their calculations.
To date, archaeological efforts have unveiled two significant artefacts in India that demonstrate the early use of the numeral zero:
K-127
The more ancient of the two is the stone known as K-127, dated to 683 CE. Discovered in the Hindu temple complex of Sambor near the Mekong River, this stone features the numeral zero depicted as a dot amidst other numbers. Presently, K-127 is housed in the National Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Gwalior zero
Subsequent to this is the ‘Gwalior zero’, found inscribed in the Chaturbhuj Temple in Gwalior, India. This artefact, dating to 876 CE, showcases the use of the number zero in a manner akin to modern usage, specifically to document a land grant.
Birth of algebra in the Islamic Golden Age
In the 9th century, during the intellectual flourishing of the Islamic Golden Age, zero became fully integrated into mathematics. This critical development was spearheaded by the Persian scholar Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, celebrated as the father of algebra. In the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, Al-Kwharizmi developed an Arabic numeric system with the number zero, called in Arabic ‘sifr’.
House of Wisdom in Baghdad
The transmission of the zero concepts from India to Europe was expedited by the Latin translation of al-Khwarizmī’s seminal work, Algoritmo de Numero Indorum, in the 12th century. This translation served as a pivotal conduit, connecting the mathematical legacies of ancient India with the Arab world and, subsequently, with Europe. This served as the foundation for the zero concept’s wider adoption, which Arab traders also helped to facilitate.
Fibonacci and the spread of zero worldwide
Liber Abaci
The 13th century brought the next significant chapter in Zero’s odyssey. Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa, better known as Fibonacci, encountered the Hindu-Arabic decimal system, including the ‘0’, during his travels to North Africa.
Recognising the immense potential of this system over the existing Roman numerals, Fibonacci introduced the ‘0’ to Europe through his book Liber Abaci (Book of Calculation) in 1202.
Zero in the digital era
The evolution of zero culminates in its central role in today’s digital world. In the binary system, which forms the basis of modern computing, digits 0 and 1 represent one bit. This seemingly simple binary language has led to the formation of bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, terabytes, and beyond, shaping the digital landscape we experience today.
Parting thoughts
The journey of zero is a testament to the power of cross-cultural exchange, human curiosity, and technological innovation. From its philosophical origins in ancient India to its mathematical maturity in the Arab world, and finally to its global adoption,
Zero has transformed human thought and society. Zero’s contributions to mathematics, physics, and digitalisation are fundamental and continue to resonate in our modern world, underscoring the profound importance of this seemingly simple number.
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14 Jun 2023
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We combine them into a unique interplay for teaching, research, and AI development. Ultimately, they aim at anchoring AI into the core values of humanity (humAInism)
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