
The Origin of Geometry in India
A Study in the Sulbasutras
Ramkrishna Bhattacharya(Author)
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Published on 7. May 2019
Book
Hardback
221 pages
978-1-5275-3094-2 (ISBN)
Description
This book is the first complete study of the origin of geometry in India. In Ancient India, brick-built fire-altars (citi-s) were ordained for the Soma sacrifice, a Vedic rite, which led to the compilation of rule-books for making and arranging bricks. These volumes, called Sulbasutra-s, represent the first available texts of both geometry and mensuration, and were composed from 600 BCE, although the actual practice goes back to c. 1500 BCE. This book begins by detailing the history of geometry in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece, and shows that geometry everywhere starts with brick-built structures, rather than the measurement of land. It emphasizes that geometry in India, unlike in Greece, was side-based rather than angle-based. The text is profusely illustrated.
More details
Edition
Unabridged edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Newcastle upon Tyne
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Unabridged edition
Product notice
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 212 mm
Width: 148 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-5275-3094-2 (9781527530942)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2019
1st Edition
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
€204.99
Available for download
Person
Ramkrishna Bhattacharya taught English at the University of Calcutta, and served as an Emeritus Fellow of the University Grants Commission, India. He is currently a Fellow of the Pavlov Institute, India. His publications include Studies on the Carvaka/Lokayata (2009; 2011), and his papers on the history of science in India have appeared in a number of international journals.