Counting by 10s vs. 20s

[Joel S. Berson]

What is the received wisdom why English counts the God-given natural
numbers by tens, whereas French counts them by
twenties?  Did  European serfs of colder Northern Europe wear shoes,
while the peasants of warmer Southern Europe went barefoot?

(Only the second question above is facetious; I am curious about the
first question.)

Joel

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