Trivia ForgePlay free →

Which Mesoamerican civilization, known for its Classic period city-states and logosyllabic script, used a base-20 numbering system that included a symbol for zero?

Show answer

Maya

The Maya were one of the few ancient civilizations to understand the concept of zero, which they represented with a shell-shaped glyph. This advanced mathematical thinking allowed them to create incredibly accurate solar calendars and track time over millions of years.

Also asked as:
  • Which Mesoamerican culture used a shell-shaped glyph to represent zero in their base-20 numbering system?

Would you remember this in 6 months?

Trivia Forge uses spaced repetition so facts stick. Free, no signup needed.

Practice History questions →

More History trivia

See all 442 →