Distortion of history distorts the origin of the concept of zero in Mathematics

[Wilbert Zvakanyorwa Sadomba]

Reading the historical origin of the modern concept of zero in Mathematics, it is intriguing that there is virtually no mention of the contribution of Africa. I mean Africa, south of the Sahara, not ancient Egypt as scholars have tended to easily accept and promote. In other words, I mean the contribution of the Blacks in developing zero as a thought and as function in Mathematics.

The distortion lies in dwindling the size of the Mutapa Empire. There is ample evidence of attempts by, especially west European scholars to reduce the Mutapa Empire to nonentity. Mainstream history now takes this Grat Empire to have been squeezed between the two great rivers, Zambezi and Limpopo. Yet deep analysis, maps by early European catographers, explorers and historians show otherwise. For centuries, European catographers show the Mutapa Empire to border with the Ethiopian Empire up in the north.

Scholars have not adequately (if ever) questioned how then for example, Mutapa international gold trade could have totally failed to leave a mark in ideas. Did trade just end in exchange of goods and not ideas? Forninstance, there 8a no politybin the world, with its salt, that did not acquire some gold from Mutapa Empire.  This should have led to Mathematics of invisibility of gold to facilitate this trade. Up to what point was division of gold conceptualized? Philosophically, the origin of the concept of a triangle as a figure is clear in Shona. Further it is clear how, based on this philosophy,the concept of the the circle (360°) evolved and became the main design technique of the region.

Hitherto the circle still dominates architecture, engineering, social, political and economic life of the Mutapa descendants. Why? So was it a coincidence that we, today write zero as a circle? Is there equivalent philosophical link in India between figure zero and the circle, as a mathemetical notation? Or are we splitting hairs here in desperation? Who knows?

An analysis of Shona (sub group, albeit an important one) of the Mutapa Empire society, reveals existence of the concept both as a quantity and place-holder, in Mathematics. Could this concept have developed independently between India and the Mutapa Empire even besides the link between the two? This we do not know but we need to if the puzzle is be solved.

When tracing how zero ended in western Europe and so globalized, it is agreed that it originated in India, passed through Arabia then was taken by Moors in north Africa who introduced it in Spain during their rule of that region? How possibly could this avoidance of Black Africa have happened, looking at just geographical proximity? Yet links went beyond geography to encompass, economies, religion, social structures and institutions etc This hop-skip-and-jump of ideas does not hold water, in my opinion. It calls for deeper collaborative research, I propose.

Movement of ideas seems to have been deliberately distorted. In the Chemustry field of iron-smelting, which has been more difficult to conceal relationships, there is no dispute in the African origin of iron-smelting. There is further no dispute of the movement of this knowledge and skill to the Far East (China/Japan) before introducing it in Europe. This loop is unimaginable when it comes to the concept of zero? Why?

Another example of the influence of Black Africa on India is in agriculture. Wagenin Agricultural University (then) carried out researches on the origin and movement of rice using modern scientific techniques of DNA analysis. The results were obviously shocking. Rice originated in Black Africa, went to India, only to come back to its origin as changed or improved varieties. Is this the view of the world today? Spaghetti today is associated with Italy and not Black Afica yet the loop explaining the role of Africa is scientifically clear. Finger millet can also be traced in this fashion. The question is, how many more facts could have been distorted and omitted Black Africa? With what impact? 

Zimbabwe, the Mutapa Empire, was one of the five major Empires of the world. For this to be, International trade, defense, agriculture, intellectual progress, peace are important imperatives. The Indian peninsula was just a periphery of this gigantic Empire although various activities brought the two closer. So one begs the question how, with such a relationship, Black Africa is completely obliterated.

I hypothesise that the origin of the concept of zero has so far not been accurately presented and warrants collaborative research at very high levels of academia.

But of more significance is question why this is important at all in he science of mathematics? My answer is it is very important. Mathematics is not neutral discipline. It is shrouded in cultures and norms of the society from which it is practiced. In this era, where humanity grapples with issues of environmental catastrophe, wars, diseases and destructive technologies, there is need to examine alternatives learning from historical experiences. Black Africa developed non written philosophical Mathematics as opposed to Computational Mathematics  of the mainstream currently. We have discovered that in the social formation "unhu" (humane thinking and practices), Mathematics was cardinal. If so, couldn't we learn something of importance when we factor in AI and its impact on the human race?

I am researching on this type of staff and wish to collaborate with anyone or any institution. Please feel free to and get in touch.

Best,

Zvakanyorwa Wilbert Sadomba (PhD)

University of Zimbabwe

Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)

5 Arbedeen Road, Avondale, Harare.

Tel:+263 4 303080 or (UZ) +263 4 303211

Email: wzsa...@gmail.com

Visiting Scholar - (till December 2016)

University of Kyoto

Graduate School of Letters (Dept. of Sociology)

Office Tel: +81 75 7532846

Email: sadomba.w...@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp