Egyptian Digits as Origin of the Hindu-Arabic Numerals

The Egyptian origin of the Greek alphabetic numerals, 2003

Traditionally, it has been assumed that the Greek alphabetic numerals were independently invented in the sixth century BC. However, the author finds a remarkable structural similarity between this system and the Egyptian demotic numerals. He proposes that trade between Asia Minor and Egypt provided the context in which the Greek numerals were adopted from Egyptian models.

Abstract The aim of this paper is to examine, analyze and ascertain the root of the modern mathematical numeral system between the Indian-Hindu Brahmagubta, Islamo-Arabic and the Western numeral systems. The paper utilized secondary source of data. The methodology adopted by the paper is content analysis. The findings of the paper revealed that the origin of the shapes of our ten modern numerals do not concern the Indian mathematics history, as Hindus do not have full-fledged mathematical numeral system before the development of Arabic Numerals between 8th-15th Centuries. The character of Hindu-Indian numerals in whatever form and categories it belongs- Brahmagubta or anyone else, does not have any genealogical affiliations to the present modern mathematical numeral versions, as well the same thing applies to the Western mathematical systems. The paper argued that, the root/origin of the modern Arabic numeral is traced to its original and independent Arabic character versions, which transmuted from one stage to another with some state of galvanization - from Abjadi, Mashriki to Ghubari. The paper argued that apart from the non-reliability of the thesis of disparity in characters or shapes of the Arabic numerals compare to that of the Hindu-Indian Brahmagubta, there is also that of philosophical caricature fiction of genealogical linkage as well as the phonological misplacement of language or terms. The paper also argued that during the Golden-Age of Islam between 7th and 15th centuries, European arithmeticians especially in the eleventh, twelfth and part of thirteenth centuries, knew nothing about Arabic numerals; it was incredibly absent, they knew only the use of antiquated Roman numerals and Abacus in counting. In that regard, the Arabic numeral symbols (or system) were developed by Islamo-Arabic mathematicians, learned by Indians and some Europeans who cares about knowledge. In the east, the numeral system attracted the Indian mathematicians, while in Europe, the numeral system was first employed in Italy, then later France for practical purposes after the translation of the work of Al-Khwarizmi Mohammed Ibn Musa (Latin Algorithm) in 12th century into Latin by Gerard of Cremona, also known as Leonardo Fibonacci.

[Errata: Please of course read snwj instead of Snwj for the number ' two' in Ancient Egyptian] The study, using mainly comparative linguistic, establishes that several ancient Egyptian numerals are cognates of equivalents in several “Indo-European” languages, as well as in Proto “Indo-European”; i.e. that these numerals, some attested since the First Dynasty, share a common etymology for historical reasons which are yet to be unravelled and which may have been decisive in the formative process of the ancient Egyptian civilisation. It also formulates the hypothesis, despite the widely accepted ‘”African-Asiatic” (previous Hamito-Semitic”) identity of Ancient Egyptian, that there is an “Indo-European” and/or Proto “Indo-European” linguistic stratum in Ancient Egyptian which will have to be better distinguished in the future.

The essay surveys the history of the origin and spread of the Indian Numerals (1,2,3,...,9,0) through the ages , first to China and then, through the mediation of the Arabs, to other parts of Asia and Europe. The decimal system was adopted without any active promotion by any agency. It was because of the efficacy that it ultimately replaced all other number systems; no prejudice or narrow-mindedness could stand in its way.

egyptian fractional numerals the grammar of egyptian nps and statements with fractional number expressions 1 Helena Lopez palma, university of a coruña abstract egyptian fractional numerals are partitive expressions of two types: (a) a simple substantive specific for naming the natural fractions 'half' gÈ, 'quarter' HÈb, 'third' r, 'two thirds' r.wj. (b) a complex partitive numeral formed with the substantive r 'part' and a number, r-num (meaning 'the nth-part'), which became generalized – also for 'quarter' and 'third' – as the standard Middle egyptian denomination for fractional numbers. fractional numerals documented in Middle egyptian hieratic mathematical papyri are related to their argument by means of geni-tival syntax: gÈ n r.wj 'half of two parts'; oHo, r.wj=f 'a quantity, two parts of it'. We propose a syntactic structure for Egyptian fractional numerals that specifies the lexical and grammatical categories and the linguistic operations used to build the numeral and its relation with the argument operated over.

International Journal of Linguistics, 2012

The aim of this paper is to the examine the genetic relationship between all numeral words in Arabic and English primarily as well as other European languages such as German, French, Greek, Latin and even Sanskrit secondarily. Contrary to long-held beliefs and views in Western comparative historical linguistics in which Arabic and English, for example, are classified as members of different language families, it shows how these numerals are related to and derived from one another, with Arabic being the end origin perhaps. The numeral words have the same or similar forms and meanings with slight phonetic changes as a result of normal linguistic evolution at the phonetic, morphological and lexical levels.

Numbers have long been seen as expressions of cosmic order, possibly deriving from ancient Babylonian observation of regular cosmic events, such as night and day, the phases of the moon and cycles of the year. Belief architecture Filled with symbolism for the reason of its indirect impact on the spiritual atmosphere of this type of buildings. Symbolism can be found in which symbolic colors, symbolic shapes, number symbolism and other symbolic tools that emphasize on the spatial experience of these buildings. The research deals with number symbolism in religious buildings in Egypt and their meaning. This study extends along three periods of Egyptian architecture; that represent Ancient Egyptian Architecture, Coptic Architecture and Islamic Architecture in Egypt.

International Journal of Linguistics 4/3, pp.225-41, 2012

The aim of this paper is to the examine the genetic relationship between all numeral words in Arabic and English primarily as well as other European languages such as German, French, Greek, Latin and even Sanskrit secondarily. Contrary to long-held beliefs and views in Western comparative historical linguistics in which Arabic and English, for example, are classified as members of different language families, it shows how these numerals are related to and derived from one another, with Arabic being the end origin perhaps. The numeral words have the same or similar forms and meanings with slight phonetic changes as a result of normal linguistic evolution at the phonetic, morphological and lexical levels.

IN The Shape of Script: How and Why Writing Systems Change , Stephen Houston, ed., pp. 229-254. Santa Fe: School of American Research Press . , 2012

The aim of this study is to evaluate and examine the scientific root of binary digits from the Islamic point of view and the impact of Arabic numerals to the development of mathematics and advancement of modern science and technology. The study utilizes contend analysis and secondary source of data as its methodology. The findings of the study revealed that the world now becomes a digital one and transformation to a global village was due to the remarkable achievement made from mathematics by the use of Arabic Numerals. No profound achievement was made in mathematics and generally in science and technology until the inception of Islam in seventh century. This is because Islam is in harmony with science. From its inception, Islam made knowledge and its advancement a religious obligation. Being at a middle-course, Islam synchronizes together the secular and spiritual knowledge for the benefit of this world and the hereafter. Binary numbers or digits as the building block of all digital technology are being perceived as being pure secular which have nothing in common with religion. This paper traces the scientific and mathematical origin of 0 and 1, the binary digits to Islam as well as its contribution to the development and advancement of modern science and technology. It is therefore concluded that the world as a global village does not just happen by mistake; rather it is a making of Almighty God, Allah is beyond the horizon of human philosophy and imagination.