When was the zero invented?

Answer 1

Zero was invented about 4500 years ago.

The concept of zero was not invented, it was more accurately discovered. When it was discovered is difficult. Different cultures stumbled across it at different times independently of each other. The approximate dates that foundational civilizations discovered the concept of zero are listed below:

• Mesopotamia - ca. 2000 BCE
• India - 4th century BCE
• China - 4th century BCE
• Arabia - 500 CE
• Greece - possibly as early as the 4th century BCE, but at least by 130 CE
• Rome - 525 CE (Dionysius Exiguus referred in his writings to zero as nulla)
• Olmecs - between 1500 and 400 BCE (they passed this on to subsequent cultures such as the Mayans)