The history of mathematics: a source-based approach volume 1

Abstract

This is the first volume of two arising from the long-running Open University course Topics in the History of Mathematics. It brings together in updated form the teaching materials, activities and primary sources around which that course revolved, and ranges from ancient mathematics to the early seventeenth century. In updating, the authors have had to make many choices. They have done their best to cater for omissions with footnotes and ‘Further Reading’, and with ‘boxes’ summarizing information on particular topics. However, it may be useful to have a copy of the original Reader, edited by Fauvel and Gray, to hand, because many notes refer to passages found there. The first two chapters cover early mathematics. At the outset, the reader is invited to consider questions such as: what is mathematics andwhere and how do we recognize it happening? Much of the mathematics we learned in school seemed to appear in a vacuum, so we ask: what is the problem about, who is solving problems or communicating the results, and who are they talking to and why? Ever present are questions of historiography; how has history been communicated? Can we identify different theories about the past that colour our views? We are warned to be careful about the terms ‘history’ and ‘mathematics’: