3. MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE

~ 129 ~ inscription has been found with such a symbol before the ninth century.” 63 It is true then that the concept of zero had first formed in the mind of an Indian. But at that period in history, India was dominated wholly by polytheism and superstition. Everything was shrouded in mystery and inventions were abhorred. That was why the concept of zero did not receive general recognition in ancient India. It was reduced to a mere discovery of an individual, and thus failed to win general approval. The seed of India, neglected at home, did, however, fall on fertile soil in Muslim Baghdad, where it flowered into a tree and then, via Muslim Spain, spread all over Europe. Yet, without Islam having first put an end to the concepts of polytheism and superstition, the concept of zero—like so many other innovative ideas—could not have been universally welcomed. AGRICULTURE The river was one of those phenomena of nature held to possess divine attributes. People believed