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Is it really because we have ten fingers? Would it then not be more logical to use then a system based on 11? 
Btw: I'm Aware, it took a longer time to recognize that "Zero" also exists. From what I remember it was somebody from India who recognized this fact first.
[Edit]
Try to imagine we would have only one finger...
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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That's a sexist remark! 
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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The danes and the french does.
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Jörgen Andersson wrote: The danes and the french does.
En est tu certain ?
Patrice
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” Albert Einstein
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70 = soixante-dix
80 = quatre-vingts
90 = quatre-vingt-dix
And danish:
50 = halvtreds
60 = tres
70 = halvfjerds
80 = firs
90 = halvfems
In Paris you have (Or had) l’Hôpital des Quinze-Vingts, which used to have 300 beds.
Mostly remnants today, the Swizz (and if I recall correctly the Belgians) have gone full decimal. Switzerland uses septante for 70, octante or huitante for 80 and nonante for 90
In english there are small rests of it too:
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
(The Gettysberg Address, 1863)
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It is almost correct.
Belgians still use 80 (quatre-vingts).
But you are perfectly right about 70 and 90.
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We count in base 10, but some names remain from the past. 
The dozen is still in little usage: 2 dozen eggs
Patrice
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” Albert Einstein
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I understand it's a leftover from the Celts.
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The dozen, I suspect, is also based on fingers. It's a system that emanates from East Anglia.
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
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I read something on this once. From what I recall, 12 is used for dozen and timekeeping because it was easier to break down into fractions with no remainder. 10 is divisible by 2 and 5 whereas 12 is divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6.
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0x01AA wrote: Would it then not be more logical to use then a system based on 11?
But then you couldn't teach kids about numbers bigger than ten without being arrested... 
Probably, "because it works" - the Babylonians used sexagesimal, which is somewhat unwieldy; the Egyptians were decimal; some native American tribes used pental; Aristotle favoured ten as we have ten fingers; the Gauls and the Mayans were vigesimal (and this can still be seen in how the French count between 60 and 100)
Probably, we have the Roman empire to blame: they brought their culture - and decimal-based numbering system - to most of Europe, and it stuck.
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AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Quote: Aristotle favoured ten as we have ten fingers
So even he forgot about the Zero 
[Edit]
To be honest I don't understand  , sorry 
Quote: But then you couldn't teach kids about numbers bigger than ten without being arrested..
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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Well, he was an alcoholic! Bruce's Song[^]
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Of course now I'm absolutely clear about it 
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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i am an amateur student of ancient trade routes:OriginalGriff wrote: we have the Roman empire to blame: they brought their culture - and decimal-based numbering system - to most of Europe, and it stuck.
Roman Numerals are a non-positional notation, and incorporate base #5, as well as base #10. Romans used a duo-decimal system for fractions: [^]
I'd give credit for the adoption of the modern positional base #10 decimal system in Europe to the Arab world via ancient Indian, and other, sources: [^].
«... thank the gods that they have made you superior to those events which they have not placed within your own control, rendered you accountable for that only which is within you own control For what, then, have they made you responsible? For that which is alone in your own power—a right use of things as they appear.» Discourses of Epictetus Book I:12
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Holy ... whatever, can you please explain what you are discussing about in "my" thread
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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Quote: Roman Numerals are a non-positional notation
Roman numbers don't depend for value on their relative distance from the decimal point like ours does: they had different markers for Ten, Fifty, Hundred, and so on (until they needed really big numbers, when they started using bars over the number which multiplied it by 1000).
Quote: incorporate base #5, as well as base #10
They used a kinda composite system , which used both base five (V, L, D) as well as base ten (X, C, M). Division in roman numbers was ... um ... interesting. whi8ch might have been why they used abaci (though we have no idea if they invented it or teh Chinese, they both used very similar devices).
Quote: Romans used a duo-decimal system for fractions
I didn't know that!
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Everything clear now, at least after I a take two or three pints
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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OriginalGriff wrote: Romans used a duo-decimal system for fractions
Hi,
There is some wonderful scholarly work going on by a modern generation of historians who are correcting the optics of the warped eurocentric/western lens prior generations' scholars looked through, and used to frame the interaction between "West and East."
Lisa Jardine (deceased 2015) is one of my favorites; her work "Worldly Goods" is a masterpiece. Stewart Gordon's "There and Back: Twelve of the Great Routes of Human History" is a newer (2018) contribution. My own amateur research in this area is more oriented to intra-Asian trade, and cultural transmission of ideas, art, and culture.
1300 years ago, in (what is now) China, we could have leased Bactrian camels to take our precious silks and luxury crafts across the Silk Road, a journey of 185 days; the Bactrian Camels, carrying a load of 100~200kg. each, could go for three days without water as we crossed the Taklamakan desert, even though we couldn't. For money, we might have used Sasanian silver (ancient Iranian empire: a high-quality mintage widely used).
But, of course, silk itself was a currency all along the Silk Road.
If we survived our journey, we might have come back rich, perhaps laden with Roman gold. More importantly, we might have had stories to tell that induced wonder in all who heard them.
«... thank the gods that they have made you superior to those events which they have not placed within your own control, rendered you accountable for that only which is within you own control For what, then, have they made you responsible? For that which is alone in your own power—a right use of things as they appear.» Discourses of Epictetus Book I:12
modified 12-May-18 18:27pm.
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0x01AA wrote: explain what you are discussing
Re-read the title of your post, then re-read the links in my post.
If you're still confused, don't feel you need to tell me 
«... thank the gods that they have made you superior to those events which they have not placed within your own control, rendered you accountable for that only which is within you own control For what, then, have they made you responsible? For that which is alone in your own power—a right use of things as they appear.» Discourses of Epictetus Book I:12
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I am often surprised by my contributions
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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0x01AA wrote: am often surprised by my contributions
I think that is one of the most wonderful "features" of this great site, and the remarkable people on it !
What could be better than to learn things we did not know we did not know ?
cheers, Bill
«... thank the gods that they have made you superior to those events which they have not placed within your own control, rendered you accountable for that only which is within you own control For what, then, have they made you responsible? For that which is alone in your own power—a right use of things as they appear.» Discourses of Epictetus Book I:12
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OriginalGriff wrote: we have the Roman empire to blame
As someone with a somewhat Italian sounding last name I am offended by your appropriation of the Roman culture!
You might say I am actually Dutch, or that the Romans forced their culture upon Europe, but I will not hear it!
Also, the world is flat, unlike Mars which we have observed to be round.
I am also vegetarian and therefore I am ethically superior to you and everything you say will be twisted and turned and taken out of context so all your arguments are invalid.
Last, but not least, I sexually identify as an Apache attack helicopter.
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Interesting. I identify as the aroma of roses on a summer's evening.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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