0 to 9 : The Secret History of Numbers — Season 1, Episode 1: How it all began
Documentary • 53 min • 1 season, 3 episodes • ★ 8.0/10
Episode synopsis
They serve us for calculating, measuring, or coding, yet little is known about their history: numbers. From Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago, through India and China, to the Arab world – this three-part series takes us through the fascinating world history of numbers and explains why one method of counting ultimately prevailed and became a universal system of reference.
About 0 to 9 : The Secret History of Numbers
The history of our modern Indo-Arabic numeral system begins in Mesopotamia, leads through India to the Arab world – and from there around the globe. This three-part series explores how the "Arabic numerals" began their triumphant march and the special role that zero played in this process. From its beginnings to modern computer science – today, numbers are the universal language of the world.