Glossary · Term

Hindu–Arabic numeral system

Also known as Hindu-Arabic numerals

The Hindu–Arabic numeral system is the decimal place-value system of writing numbers with ten digits, including zero, used throughout the world today. It developed in India by the 6th or 7th century, was taken up by mathematicians of the Islamic world such as al-Khwarizmi, and reached Europe through Spain and Italy. Fibonacci's Liber Abaci of 1202 did much to spread it among European merchants.

Hindu–Arabic numeral system
Image: Cmglee · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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Republic of Pisa

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Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Hindu–Arabic numeral system. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/hindu-arabic-numeral-system
MLA
“Hindu–Arabic numeral system.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/hindu-arabic-numeral-system. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Hindu–Arabic numeral system.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/hindu-arabic-numeral-system.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Hindu–Arabic numeral system’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/hindu-arabic-numeral-system (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻