The History of Numbers. Digits, Symbols, Words

This edition is a fundamental compilation of knowledge about the origins of numbers and numerals, the development of the numerical sequence, and the language of numbers – the main work of the German mathematician Karl Menninger.

The author presents the concept of number in an accessible form, mostly in the form of entertaining stories, providing a multifaceted analysis of the emergence of numbers and their evolution in different cultures.

Particular interest is sparked by the account of ancient counting devices: primitive counting sticks, cords with knots from ancient Peru, complex finger gestures that were once used as digits, counting boards with tokens, and the abacus.

A multitude of illustrations and tables comparing the digits and their representation in different languages aid in the perception of the text.