[Virginia-American]

A good place to research this is Knuth's "Art of Computer Programming". Zero was invented twice, by the Hindus and by the Mayans (or another middle American group). The Muslim invaders of India adopted the Hindu system, and about 1200 AD Fibbonacci introduced it to Europe.

[Aliska]

Thanks for the info. I went through that in the 70's but hadn't heard of it. Would like to read the book on Babbage, too, when I can find it.