How did roman numerals start?

Answer 1

Well before they came into existence the Romans were very into fingers, but with all the trading they did they needed something better and more useful. They devised the system still using what they had:

I = a finger V = and outstretched hand and X for both hands in the same manner. that as added onto over the years using latin symbols (C = 100 from latin) because of the Roman Empire in the Western Hemisphere and BINGO.

WE have a system. its been changed a lil since then but it remains mostly the same. Except on clock faces