Counting board

The counting board was invented to facilitate and streamline numerical calculations in ancient civilizations.

Its inception addressed the need for a practical tool to perform arithmetic operations efficiently.

By using counters or tokens on a board with designated sections, people could easily keep track of quantities, trade, and financial transactions.

[3] This invention not only enhanced accuracy but also fueled the development of more sophisticated mathematical concepts and systems throughout history.

The German mathematician Adam Ries described the use of counting boards in Rechenbuch auf Linien und Ziphren in allerlei Handthierung / geschäfften und Kaufmanschafft.

This simple counting board consists of a wooden board with lines drawn on it, with pebbles (Latin: calculi ) used as counters. Lines represent powers of ten and spaces between the lines represent 5 times the adjacent power of ten. The pictured number is 2,648, or in Roman numerals, MMDCXXXXVIII. The exact form and use of common ancient counting boards is not known, as few ancient counting boards and no ancient written instructions have survived.
Rechentisch/Counting board (engraving probably from Strasbourg )