History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s15.10

v1.c7.s15.10

Now, as to the fact that these figures might have been known in Alexandria in the second century A.D., there is not much doubt. But the question naturally arises: Why should the Alexandrians use and retain a knowledge of these numerals? As far as we know, they did possess numeral notations of their own; why should they give preference to a foreign notation? These questions cannot be satisfactorily answered unless we assume that along with the nine symbols the principle of place-value and probably also the zero was communicated to them. But as they were unprepared for the reception of this abstract conception, they adopted the nine numerals only and used them on the apices. These numerals were then transmitted by them to Rome and to west Africa.