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Which was the first known civilization to use the concept of zero?

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Zero was invented independently by the Babylonians, Mayans and Indians (although some researchers say the Indian number system was influenced by the Babylonians). The Babylonians got their number system from the Sumerians, the first people in the world to develop a counting system.

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User Andrew Bucknell
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Answer: (In America) Maya civilization, but the first time the concept of zero was documented was by the Babylonians

The zero as we know it today, was found in India and arrived to Europe through the Arabs with the invasion of what we know today as Spain.

However, the zero was also known by some pre-Columbian civilizations, among them the Mayans (although there are theories that claim that they could have been the Olmecs, a civilization before the Mayans, but until now there is not enough information to confirm it).

This was due to the fact that it was a civilization with a high knowledge of astronomy and calendars, hence, they needed a symbol that represented nothingness. For this reason, long before being colonized by the spaniards, the Maya civilization created the zero and adapted it to their needs.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that it is known that it was several years ago B.C. when the Babylonian scribes conceived a sign that represented the void, that is, the absence of numbers. This being considered as a vestige that this civilization already conceived the idea of something that represented nothingness.

In summary, the practice of using the zero symbol spread across Europe and its first conceptions were found in the babylonian civilization. But the Mayans, located on the other side of the ocean, in another continent, discovered the use of zero by their own means.

User Vikas Kad
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