The History of Numbers. Numbers, Symbols, Words

This edition is a fundamental collection of knowledge about the origin of numbers and numerals, the development of numerical sequences and numerical language - the main work of the German mathematician Karl Menninger. The author presents the concept of number... in an accessible way, mostly in the form of engaging stories, providing a multifaceted analysis of the emergence of numbers and their development in different cultures. Particular interest is aroused by the account of ancient counting devices: primitive counting sticks, cords with knots of ancient Peru, complex finger gestures that were once used as numbers, counting boards with tokens, and the abacus. Many illustrations and tables comparing numbers and their writing in different languages aid in the understanding of the text.