> Because big-endian matches how most humans have done it for most of history ("five hundred twenty one" is written "521" or "DXXI", not "125" or "IXXD").
Actually, it is possible that that was nothing more than an accident. We use Arabic numerals, and Arabic languages are written right-to-left. Then there are languages like German where digits are read in reverse, so "42" is read as "two-and-forty".
Actually, it is possible that that was nothing more than an accident. We use Arabic numerals, and Arabic languages are written right-to-left. Then there are languages like German where digits are read in reverse, so "42" is read as "two-and-forty".