Limandy

0 to 9 : The Secret History of Numbers

2025 1 Seasons ⭐ 8.0

Documentary

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.

1. How it all began

2025-05-25

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 …

2. The Triumph of Mathematics

2025-05-25

Why do we speak of "Arabic numerals" in Europe, even though they were "invented" in India? How did these ten little symbols begin their triumphant journey around the world from th…

3. From Tool to Universal Code

2025-05-26

From Europe to America, from the beginnings of modern science to computer science: numbers have been omnipresent throughout world history. Gradually, they have permeated all areas…