Complex sentence: Liber Abaci was among the first Western books to describe Arabic numerals, the first being by Pope Silvester II in 999, but by addressing tradesmen and academics, it began to convince the public of the superiority of the new numerals.
Split into simpler sentences: Liber Abaci was among the first Western books to describe Arabic numerals, the first being by Pope Silvester II in 999. By addressing tradesmen and academics, it began to convince the public of the superiority of the new numerals.