A brief historical development of classical mathematics before the Renaissance

• Autores: Lokenath Debnath
• Localización: International journal of mathematical education in science and technology, ISSN 0020-739X, Vol. 42, Nº. 5, 2011, págs. 625-647
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/0020739x.2011.562320
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• Resumen

  • 'If you wish to foresee the future of mathematics our proper course is to study the history and present condition of the science.'Henri Poincare'It is India that gave us the ingenious method of expressing all numbers by ten symbols, each symbol receiving a value of position, as well as an absolute value. We shall appreciate the grandeur of the achievement when we remember that it escaped the genius of Archimedes and Apollonius.'P.S. Laplace'The Greeks were the first mathematicians who are still 'real' to us today. Oriental mathematics may be an interesting curiosity, but Greek mathematics is the real thing. The Greek first spoke of a language which modern mathematicians can understand.'G.H. HardyThis article deals with a short history of mathematics and mathematical scientists during the ancient and medieval periods. Included are some major developments of the ancient, Indian, Arabic, Egyptian, Greek and medieval mathematics and their significant impact on the Renaissance mathematics. Special attention is given to many results, theorems, generalizations, and new discoveries of arithmetic, algebra, number theory, geometry and astronomy during the above periods. A number of exciting applications of the above areas is discussed in some detail. It also contains a wide variety of important material accessible to college and even high school students and teachers at all levels. Included also is mathematical information that puts the professionals and prospective mathematical scientists at the forefront of current research.