History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s7.60

v1.c7.s7.60

**Period of Invention.** The invention of the system may be assigned to the period 1,000 B.C. to 600 B.C. As the Aśokan numerical figures indicate that the system was common all over India,² and that it has had a long history, the lower limit 1,000 B.C. is certainly not placed too early. On the other hand general considerations, such as the high development of the arts and the sciences, the mention of numerical signs and of 64 different scripts in ancient Buddhist literature,³ and the use of large numbers at a very early period, all point to the date of the invention of the system as being nearer to 1,000 B.C., if not earlier.