A Short History of Greek Mathematics

The complete history of Greek mathematics, from the origins of arithmetic to the key works of Pythagorus, Euclid, and Archimedes.

James Gow (Author)

9781108009034, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 June 2010

380 pages, 30 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.2 cm, 0.48 kg

James Gow's A Short History of Greek Mathematics (1884) provided the first full account of the subject available in English, and it today remains a clear and thorough guide to early arithmetic and geometry. Beginning with the origins of the numerical system and proceeding through the theorems of Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes and many others, the Short History offers in-depth analysis and useful translations of individual texts as well as a broad historical overview of the development of mathematics. Parts I and II concern Greek arithmetic, including the origin of alphabetic numerals and the nomenclature for operations; Part III constitutes a complete history of Greek geometry, from its earliest precursors in Egypt and Babylon through to the innovations of the Ionic, Sophistic, and Academic schools and their followers. Particular attention is given to Pythagorus, Euclid, Archimedes, and Ptolemy, but a host of lesser-known thinkers receive deserved attention as well.

Part I. Prolegomena to Arithmetic: 1. The decimal scale
2. Egyptian arithmetic
Part II. Greek Arithmetic: 3. Calculation
4. Greek theory of numbers
Part III. Greek Geometry: 5. Prehistoric and Egyptian geometry
6. Greek geometry to Euclid
7. Euclid, Archimedes, Apollonius
8. The second century B.C.
9. From Geminus to Ptolemy
10. Last years
Index.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]