History of numbers
Previously there was symbol to represent numbers rather than fingers, body parts, rocks, or sticks. Also there were no clock or calendars, therefore sun and moon were used to keep track of time. Most people back then used some common terminology to represent number such as sheep or grain. However, when group of people formed a village, they started trading which then created a need for currency, especially in large number
Mainly, the creation of numbers came from the need of a large number representation. Back then tally marks were also commonly used for counting and measuring which also considered as one of the first kind of abstract numeral system. But the problem was that it has no concept of place value which limited the representation of large numbers
Therefore, many methods have been used through out the world, differently in each region.
For example,
Mesopotamian used the system of counting tokens, where each tokens have different appearance and units of measure. Babylonians stamped number clays by using a stick and depressing it into clay at different angles and pressures. Also Egyptians painted onpottery and cut numbers into stone. They tended to create their own symbol, which they all understood within the region, to represent numbers
Egyptian numerical symbols
Chinese numerical system
Roman numeral, still use today
Mayan numeral system
Original finger numerals system
were used by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Europeans
From time to time, numerical system has evolved from Hindu numeral to modern numbers
Currently, we are all using Hindu-Arabic numeral which was developed by Indian mathematicians. Then from india, Arabic mathematicians extended the system to include decimal and fractions. Arabic numeral was introduced to Europe in 12th century in Spain.
development of numbers
Also there is another method that I find interesting called Notae Elegantissimae
ps. i like the outline and the shape of each symbol, also the combination of numbers when representing a large number
Thai numeral system is also identical to the Hindu-Arabic system as well
Back in Thai society, People also used a terminology of rice, wheat, and grain to represent numbers. And the unit of measure was called by using the carrier object to measure.
Eg. Thai people put grain into a cart, therefore they count it as 1 cart, 2 cart,... and when people say 1cart, they can estimate the amount of the grain.
Numerology research
Isopsephy is considered one of the method used in numerological calculation. It is a practice of adding up the number values of the letters in a word to form a single number. Before arabic numeral was promoted in Europe, numerals were predominantly alphabetical. The use of isopsephy was also appeared in graffiti in Pompeii; "I love her whose number is 545". Also was found on a wall in Rome as well.
eg. "One line is made equal in number to one, not two to two; for I no longer approve of long epigrams." Here each line totals 4111
Letter values of the greek alphabet
|
|
|
Numbers in games
-sudoku
-minesweeper
-number order
- cross number puzzle (similar to crossword by change words into numbers)
- shikaku puzzle (rectangles)
rule: divide the grid into rectangle or square pieces which each piece contains only 1 number and that number represents the area of the shape
I'm thinking about using some of puzzle game techniques and adapt them into creating space. I'm interested in how the puzzle board is arranged in order to allow all numbers to do their work by representing or hinting different information. Also how importance each number is, because if you misread or miscalculate the number, the puzzle would not be solved.
I will also research more on mythic of number, but the information that actually related to topic is quite hard ti find. Also the reason why there is only 1-9 numbers is not yet to find. i will keep finding
