OF LONG AGO
he went to Rome he explained these numerals to others. He became one of the most learned men of his time and was elected pope, taking the name of Sylvester II. In this way the numerals that we often call Arabic were brought to the attention
CHANGES IN OUR NUMERALS
This shows some ofthe changes made in our numerals fromabout thetime of Gerbert to the timewhen Europe began to print books. After printing was invented there were few changes
learned men in Europe about the year 1000, although they had been known a little before this time in Spain and possibly in Italy.
The handwriting of people changes so much from century to century and from country to country that the numerals which Gerbert used
NUMBER STORIES
were very different from those which we study in school and which everyone in Europe and America uses to-day. Little by little, however, they came more nearly to resemble those which we now see in our arithmetics.
Printing from movable type was invented in Europe about 1450, although printing from engraved blocks was known much earlier. After the numerals were first printed they did not change very much. We use about the same figures that Columbus used. This is because printed letters and figures do not change as rapidly as written letters and figures.
An Italian boy named Leonardo (l när'd ), who was born about seven centuries ago in Pisa (p 'zä), learned about these numerals in an Arab school in northern Africa, where his father was working. When he became a man he described them in a book which he wrote, and this assisted in making them known. But of course the book was not printed then, because printing was not yet known in Europe. He left the book in manuscript, and many people read it, especially in Italy, where it was written, and in this way they learned about these numerals.
"Did all these boys really live ? " asked George.
"Really; every one of them."
"What are the funny marks under the picture of Gupta ? " asked Clara.
"That is the way he wrote his name in his language. People in India did not know our alphabet in those days. They had a curious. one of their own."
"But the marks don't look like those under Mohammed's picture," said Helen.
"That is because Mohammed wrote his name in Arabic," said the Story-Teller.
"Gerbert was a French boy," said Edward, so why did n't he use French letters ? "
"That is because the French use Latin letters. Did you ever think how odd it seems that Americans speak English and write in Latin letters ? "
"How did they ever work with such curious figures ? " asked Maude.
"That is another "
" So there is another story ! " interrupted the Crowd.
"That depends on the Question Box," said the Story-Teller.
THE QUESTION BOX
1. How did Gupta learn the numerals?
2. Describe the appearance of books in Gupta's time and country.
3. Why were the numerals used by Gupta no better than the others about which you have heard ? What important symbol was lacking? About when was this symbol invented?
4. When Mohammed the son of Moses went to Bagdad, did he find the Arabs using our numerals ? About when did our numerals reach Bagdad?
5. What did Mohammed the son of Moses do to make our numerals known in Bagdad and also in Europe?
6. About when did Gerbert live, and how did he come to know about our numerals? What prominent position Idid he hold ?
7. About when did Leonardo of Pisa live, and what did he do to make our numerals known?
8. Why did Leonardo not have the book printed which he wrote when he became a man?
9. About when was printing from movable type invented in Europe ?
10. What kind of printing was known before the invention of movable type? Why is it better for the printers to use movable type?