The concept of the numeral '1' as part of a decimal number system originated in India.
While various cultures throughout history used tally marks or other symbols to represent a single unit, the numeral '1' as we know it within the Hindu-Arabic numeral system—the system of 10 symbols (0-9) used globally today—was developed in India. This system, complete with the numerals 1 through 9 and the concept of zero, was a significant advancement.
The Hindu-Arabic numeral system emerged in India around the 6th or 7th century. Its use then spread to the Middle East, where mathematicians like al-Khwarizmi and al-Kindi further developed and popularized it. Through their writings, this system was introduced to Europe around the 12th century, eventually replacing Roman numerals and becoming the standard numerical system worldwide.
