ScienceSouth Asia
The Gupta empire
Zero becomes a number, and India has its classical golden age
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Zero as a placeholder existed elsewhere, but zero as a *number* — something you can add, subtract and compute with — is an Indian innovation that made algebra and all later mathematics possible. The system reached Europe via Arab mathematicians, hence "Arabic numerals". The period also produced Kalidasa's poetry, the Ajanta cave paintings and the Kama Sutra.
For children
Under the Gupta kings, Aryabhata wrote that the Earth rotates on its axis, calculated pi to four decimals, and used zero as a number you could compute with. Together with the digits 1–9 this is the system we use today.
Connects to
Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org