0 to 9 : The Secret History of Numbers

162025•8.0/10

Documentary

Ratings

🎬TMDb

8.0/10(2)

The history of our modern Indo-Arabic numeral system begins in Mesopotamia, leads through India to the Arab world – and from there around the globe. This three-part series explores how the "Arabic numerals" began their triumphant march and the special role that zero played in this process. From its beginnings to modern computer science – today, numbers are the universal language of the world.

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Production

ARTE, CAPA, Films à Cinq

Language

Status

Ended

First Aired

May 25, 2025

Last Aired

May 26, 2025

Networks

ARTE

Where to Watch

Region US · Lang EN

No providers available for this region.

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Seasons & Episodes

Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.

Season

How it all began

Air date: 2025-05-25

They serve us for calculating, measuring, or coding, yet little is known about their history: numbers. From Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago, through India and China, to the Arab world – this three-part series takes us through the fascinating world history of numbers and explains why one method of counting ultimately prevailed and became a universal system of reference.

The Triumph of Mathematics

Air date: 2025-05-25

Why do we speak of "Arabic numerals" in Europe, even though they were "invented" in India? How did these ten little symbols begin their triumphant journey around the world from there? Why did zero change the course of history? The second episode follows the trail of Brahmins visiting Baghdad, Arab scientists, and traders in the Sahara.

From Tool to Universal Code

Air date: 2025-05-26

From Europe to America, from the beginnings of modern science to computer science: numbers have been omnipresent throughout world history. Gradually, they have permeated all areas of life, yet today, calculations are rarely performed. Is this the end of a long history or the beginning of a new era? With the computer, numbers became the only truly universal language.