Duodecimal bases and Math before the Indian-Arab Invasion

[NapLajoieonSteroids]

This is more of a history question I suppose but, those of you more informed than I:

1) What system did Europe use before the introduction of the nine character math system we use today? {I know Roman numerals, I mean more like: how did they do math without a zero?}

2) Are there any systems that work on a duodecimal math system? How easy would it be to switch from a 10 base to another base?

Any information or insights you can spend my way would be greatly appreciated.

[Tinker]

No answer to number 1, but to number 2 I would say that we have to a large degree already switched from a base 10. Binary and Hexadecimal tend to be more important to computation than base 10.

[noddy]

n * 0 = 0
n / 0 = brainwarp
n + 0 = n
n - 0 = n

for day to day "practical" math, zero aint that useful... aka "me got no goodies to trade, this shit aint happening" or "a timber of length of zero is not worth thinking about cutting"

even animals understand zero - it just means nothing, not interesting, move on.

its only when you start doing higher order maths like algebra that it becomes a useful concept.

[noddy]

[ansuchin]

[noddy]

[NapLajoieonSteroids]

Thank you guys for the answers, it has given me some things to think about and pursue before I can ask another question.