The Invention of Zero
We often say that India gave the concept of Zero to the world. How did it happen? Here’s the story. ( https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Evolution_of_Hindu-Arabic_numerals.jpg ) There has always been a need for counting and manipulating quantities. This need became more important after man invented agriculture. The move to a settled lifestyle, invention of agriculture, trading of crops - all required handling quantities and numbers. Construction of houses, villages and towns again required measurements. Also property needed to be protected. This led to rulers who promised protection, armies, and bureaucracies. The ruler’s need for legitimacy with the public led to their assuming kinship with gods, or even claiming the mantle of gods. Priestly classes arose. The Heavens became involved in worldly affairs. This meant astronomical calculations were required to work out auspicious times for events. Mathematics was again needed. There are Egyptian papyri dating to 1800-15...