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By Rory
History of The mesoamerican number system
History of The mesoamerican number system
The development of Number systems by the ancient Mesoamericans began around 700-900 CE. The number system worked by using multiple lines placed vertically, each representing the amount of five. Then, dots would be placed on the lines, each representing one. In Ancient Maya, the number system was vigesimal. This is except for the amount of Zero, which used its own symbol. The number system was based on the number twenty. Many people theorize that the reason for this was related to the fact that most people have twenty toes and fingers.
The Mesoamerican number system used lines and dots placed vertically to convey different numbers.
Impact in the ancient world
Impact in the ancient world
In the ancient world, the development of a number system was used for many different things. One of the greater uses of a number system was the cultivation of the Mayan calendar. The Mayan calendar was ahead of its time and extremely precise for the era. A number system was used to create the Mayan calendar and would have never been developed without one. Another impact of the Mesoamerican number system in ancient times was mathematics. At this time, mathematics was used to calculate astronomical phenomena. In fact, astronomy was one of the main focuses of the Mayans. Astronomy and the measuring of time were connected to religion in Maya.
The Mayan numbering system had its own positional values
Impact in the Modern World
Impact in the Modern World
The Mesoamerican number system served as a reference for many related modern innovations. It was also used when our modern number system was created. The Mesoamerican number system was also used to create the Mayan calendar, which is still heavily referenced today. In the ancient world, the Mesoamerican number system and calendar were used in astrology, which has helped further many discoveries in the modern world.
Did you know?
Did you know?
In the Mayan number system, priests actually had their own separate system, using symbols of heads for each value. Mayan number system
Did you know?
Did you know?
The Mesoamericans developed the number zero. The number zero appeared hundreds of years after it was invented in Mesoamerica. 0
This is how math related to the composition of numbers
An example of mesoamerican numerals
Mesoamerican numerals in the Dresden Codex
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