The Forgotten Genius: How Fibonacci’s Numbers Shaped the Modern World
When most people hear the name Fibonacci, they immediately think of the famous Fibonacci sequence: a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones — 1,1,3,5,8,13, 21,…
This sequence is celebrated for its connection to the golden ratio and its occurrence in natural phenomena. However, there is a lesser-known but equally monumental contribution that Leonardo of Pisa, better known as Fibonacci, made to Europe: the introduction of Arabic numerals.
A Revolutionary Shift
In the early 13th century, Fibonacci was exposed to the mathematical concepts of the Arab world during his travels across the Mediterranean. His keen interest led him to adopt the Arabic numeral system (0–9), which was already well-established in the Islamic world, having originated from India.
He realized that this numeral system, based on place value and including zero, was far superior to the cumbersome Roman numerals used in Europe at the time.
Timeline of Fibonacci’s Impact
Before 1200s: The Pre-Fibonacci Era
- Roman Numerals Dominant: Prior to Fibonacci, Europe primarily used Roman numerals, which were cumbersome for…
