> Imagine having to do math with no symbols. that means 1+1 is now one plus one
I think that's exactly on point. Here are two examples from Euclid which demonstrate why mathematics, and likely science, were stunted for millenia:
"if a first magnitude and a third are equal multiples of a second and a fourth, and a fifth and a sixth are equal multiples of the second and fourth, then the first magnitude and fifth, being added together, and the third and sixth, being added together, will also be equal multiples of the second and the fourth, respectively."
a(x + y) = ax + by
"If a quantity increased by three becomes five, then that quantity has to be two".
I think that's exactly on point. Here are two examples from Euclid which demonstrate why mathematics, and likely science, were stunted for millenia:
"if a first magnitude and a third are equal multiples of a second and a fourth, and a fifth and a sixth are equal multiples of the second and fourth, then the first magnitude and fifth, being added together, and the third and sixth, being added together, will also be equal multiples of the second and the fourth, respectively."
a(x + y) = ax + by
"If a quantity increased by three becomes five, then that quantity has to be two".
X + 3 = 5
X = 2