The Number System

Curated by: Shirley

This exhibit will talk about what the Number system was, where it was from, & the impact it made on society

This is a picture of different ways you can write number from the mayan dots and bars to decorated heads used by priests.

Image 1

Where did they get the Number System from?

The development of this number system can be traced back to the Olmecs, who are believed have used a positional system
The Zapotees and the Izapan culture also used this vigesimal system in their calendars between 900 and 400 B.C. and 400 to 300 B.C.
The Mayas later adopted and extensively used this system between A.D. 199 to 900, developing complex calendars and astronomical sciences around it

What Made the Number System Historically Important?

It was Historically Important for many reasons such as, Cultural Significance, Calendar System, and Astronomical Sciences
Cultral Significance:
- The number system was important for cultural significane for dating historical events, and to write numbers downs for multiple everday uses.
Calendar System
- The Meso-American calendar system was essential for tracking time and events happening.
Astronmical Sciences
- The ability to predict solar and luncar eclispes along with predicting movements of Venus and the moon was historcally important.
- Astronimical Sciences were a vital component of their cultural achievements and identity

What did it look like?

This is a good example of the Mayan Number system using their vigesmal (positional) system and how they added things up

Image 2

This is a graph of the Aztec numbers. A good example of what the drawing for each number would look like

Image 3

What did the Mayan Number System look like?

The Mayan number system really wasn't that difficult to understand.
A bar was 5, A dot for 1, and a shell like figure for 0
In order to do more than 10 they had an positional (vigesmal system)
The bottom line would be the 1s place, on top of that 20s, on top of that would be 400s place, and on the top would be 8000s place.
With their vigesmal (positional) system it made it easy for people to understand, especially children.
Above is an example of the Mayan Number system using their vigesmal (positional) system.

What did the Aztec Number System look like?

The Aztec Number System could be a bit difficult to understand and memorize
A dot for 1 to 9 gaining a dot as you go, a diamond for 10, a flag for 20, and a feather or corn plant like drawing for 100 to 400 gaining lines as you go, and an ornate pouch like drawing for 8000
Unlike the Mayans the Aztecs didn't use an vigesimal (positional) system
The Aztecs used an additive number system adding together numbers to get the total
Above is a graph of the Aztec numbers. A good example of what the drawing for each number would look like

Zero:

Although there were multiple versions of ways to represent numbers from Mayans version to Aztecs version there were over 4 ways to write just 0. There was a:
- Quatrefoil- Only 3 sides visible and is often used to represent zero in stone inscriptions
- Shell in Hand- A hand holding a shell and often includes additional elements which may indicate pronunciation or grammatical meaning
- Stylized Oliva Shell- represented by a stylized image of a oliva shell and is in the picture to the right
- And more!

This is a picture of multiple ways to write zero in the stylized Oliva Shell version.

Image 4

What Impacts did the Number System Make?

The number system had many impacts that it made.
2 of which was: Making day-to-day life easier and made Meso-America stronger.
It made day-to-day life easier by:
- Providing a vigesmal (positional) system that the Mayans had it allowed for efficient representation of numbers
- How the Aztecs made it easier for there was representation of numbers and 1 to 9 and 100 to 400 was simple and made it easy to know.
- It was visually straightforward, which made it easy for children to grasp and understand. (Compared to the decimal system we use today it is much easier)

5 Links to other websites with more intresting information

Astronomy jstor- Talks about the use of the Number System in their Astonomy which was a cultural identity
Bar and Dot Number System - Explains the Mayan Number System in detail including how the vigesmal (postional) system worked
MATH ROOTS: Understanding Aztec and Mayan Numeration System - Explains the Aztec Number System and its Comparision to the Mayan, Icluding the glyphs they also used as numbers
Maya Concept of Zero - Explains the Mayan zero in inscriptions and manuscripts, and its significance in their calendar and astronomical calculations including its multiple glyphs used
An Ancient Maya Measurement System - Explains the Mayan Mesurement System they used. (a lot of good and interesting information)

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