Babylonians had a very advanced system of numbers. Whereas people today use a base of 10, they used 60. As people still do today, they divided the each day into 24 hours, each hour into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. All numbers less than 10 were shown by a downward pointing wedge and the number 10 by a wedge that pointed to the left. So the number 56 would be shown by 5 wedges pointing to the left and 6 wedges that pointed downward.
The Egyptians had a system of numbers that allowed enumeration up to 1,000,000. Their system of writing used hieroglyphics (pictures), and this is also reflected in their numbering system. The number one is shown by a vertical line, and this is used for all numbers up to 10, which is represented by a heel shape, somewhat similar to an upside down "U." The number 100 is a coil of rope, and 1,000 is a single flower in a small pot. So, for example, the number 127 would be represented by a coil of rope, two heel shapes and 7 vertical lines. The numbers were written from right to left.
This system is alphabetically based. The Greeks used letters to represent numbers in what is known as the Attic method of numbering. Because the Greeks wrote by carving onto stone, the task was long and onerous. The number one is a vertical line, five is similar to a small "r," 10 is a triangle and 100 is similar to a capital "H." So the number 111 would be written as a large "H" followed by a triangle and a straight vertical line. In this system, numbers were written from left to right.
Despite their relatively advanced state, the Inca civilization had no written language. This made enumerating values quite a challenge, but it was overcome by using a series of knotted strings known as a quipu. Thin pieces of string were put around a larger cord. Colored threads with knots were then tied around the strings, and it was the placement of the knots that indicated values, with relative amounts being determined by nearness to the cord. The nearer they were, the higher the value.