What culture created the number zero?

Answer 1

It is purported that the Hindus were using it long before the Arabs. However, there is no evidence that zero was created by the Hindus or any other non-western culture. However, assuming it was created by the Hindus/Arabs, this is the most significant contribution of non-western culture to mathematics - zero.

Answer 2

No one 'created' zero.
When was the concept of zero understood? There is no answer to that question. If a caveman had zero food, he/she knew there was no food.

When was zero used as a number? That is a better question and one that has been addressed several times on here. You got the Myans, Arabs, Indians, Greeks, Romans, Europeans, ... It all depends on how you define the word 'used'

Answer 3

Because it's an idea, no culture "created" the concept.

The earliest know culture to have used the concept of zero (based on archaelogical findings) was the Mayan civilization.

Answer 4

Hindus. The Indus valley Civilization (about 7000 - 5000 years ago) were active traders with the Sumerian and Egyptian empires. Zero was invented by them to keep track of their trade. It was called "Shunya" by the proto-Sanskrit speaking people. Arabs imported this concept circa 1000AD, along with Hindu decimal place addition. It was exported to the West around the 12th to 13th centuries, but was met with stiff resistance by the Christian clergy who promptly condemned it as the work of the devil; they preferred Roman numerals.

Answer 5

The Hindus and the Mayans both came up with a zero--probably independently.

Answer 6

This gives a little info on where zero originated:

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/980422/1998042208.html

Answer 7

The Mayans understood the concept of 0 before anyone else as far as we know now

Answer 8

the arabs... one day someone asked an arab "how many jews should be living" and he answered "zero". history was made!

Answer 9

nero

Answer 10

"Allah be praised! I've invented the zero!"

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing...."

:)