The Crest of the Peacock
The Non-European Roots of Mathematics
Published in July 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-0-691-00659-8 (ISBN)
Description
From the Ishango Bone of central Africa and the Inca quipu of South America to the dawn of modern mathematics, The Crest of the Peacock makes it clear that human beings everywhere have been capable of advanced and innovative mathematical thinking. George Gheverghese Joseph takes us on a breathtaking multicultural tour of the roots and shoots of non-European mathematics. He shows us the deep influence the Egyptians and Babylonians had on the Greeks; the Arabs' major creative contributions; and the astounding range of successes of the great civilizations of India and China. This challenging and erudite book questions familiar assumptions and enlarges our sense of what we mean by mathematics.
More details
Language
English
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-691-00659-8 (9780691006598)
Other editions
New editions
Book
10/2010
3rd Edition
Princeton University Press
€44.00
Shipment within 10-20 days
Content
Acknowledgements xi
Preface to the First Edition xii
Preface to the Second Edition xvii
Chapter 1: The History of Mathematics: Alternative Perspectives 1
A Justification for This Book 1
The Development of Mathematical Knowledge 3
Mathematical Signposts and Transmissions Across the Ages 12
Chapter 2: Mathematics from Bones, Strings and Standing Stones 23
Beginnings: The Ishango Bone 23
Knotted Strings from South America: The Inca Quipu 28
The Emergence of Written Number Systems: A Digression 41
Mayan Numeration 49
Chapter 3 The Beginnings of Written Mathematics: Egypt 57
The Urban Revolution and its African Origins 57
Sources of Egyptian Mathematics 59
Number Recording Among the Egyptians 61
Egyptian Arithmetic 63
Egyptian Algebra: The Beginnings of Rhetorical Algebra 76
Egyptian Geometry 81
Chapter 4 The Beginnings of Written Mathematics: Babylonia 91
Sources of Babylonian Mathematics 95
The Babylonian Number System 96
Babylonian Algebra 108
Babylonian Geometry 113
Chapter 5 Egyptian and Babylonian Mathematics: An Assessment 125
Chapter 6 Ancient Chinese Mathematics 130
Background and Sources 130
The Development of Chinese Numerals 140
Chinese Magic Squares (and Other Designs) 148
Mathematics from the Chiu Chang 156
Chapter 7 Special Topics in Chinese Mathematics 178
The 'Piling-up of Rectangles': The Pythagorean Theorem in China 180
Estimation of tt 188
Solution of Higher-order Equations and Pascal's Triangle 197
Indeterminate Analysis in China 205
Chinese Mathematics: A Final Assessment 211
Chapter 8 Ancient Indian Mathematics 215
A Restatement of Intent and a Brief Historical Sketch 215
Maths from Bricks: Evidence from the Harappan Culture 221
Mathematics from the Vedas 224
Early Indian Numerals and Their Development 239
Jaina Mathematics 249
Mathematics on the Eve of the Classical Period 256
Chapter 9 Indian Mathematics: The Classical Period and After 264
Major Indian Mathematician-Astronomers 265
Indian Algebra 272
Indian Trigonometry 280
Kerala Mathematics 286
Other Notable Contributions 294
Chapter 10 Prelude to Modern Mathematics: The Arab Contribution 301
Historical Background 301
Major Arab Mathematicians 304
The Arab Role in the Rise and Spread of Indian Numerals 311
Arab Arithmetic 316
Arab Algebra 324
Arab Geometry 333
Arab Trigonometry 338
The Arab Conhibution: A Final Assessment 344
Reflections 349
The History of Mathematics: Alternative Perspectives 349
Mathematics from Bones, Strings and Standing Stones 357
The Beginnings of Written Mathematics: Egypt 369
The Beginnings of Written Mathematics: Babylonia 377
Ancient Chinese Mathematics 385
Special Topics in Chinese Mathematics 389
Ancient Indian Mathematics 395
Indian Mathematics: The Classical Period and After 406
Prelude to Modem Mathematics: The Arab Contribution 417
Bibliography 425
Name Index 441
Subject Index 447
Preface to the First Edition xii
Preface to the Second Edition xvii
Chapter 1: The History of Mathematics: Alternative Perspectives 1
A Justification for This Book 1
The Development of Mathematical Knowledge 3
Mathematical Signposts and Transmissions Across the Ages 12
Chapter 2: Mathematics from Bones, Strings and Standing Stones 23
Beginnings: The Ishango Bone 23
Knotted Strings from South America: The Inca Quipu 28
The Emergence of Written Number Systems: A Digression 41
Mayan Numeration 49
Chapter 3 The Beginnings of Written Mathematics: Egypt 57
The Urban Revolution and its African Origins 57
Sources of Egyptian Mathematics 59
Number Recording Among the Egyptians 61
Egyptian Arithmetic 63
Egyptian Algebra: The Beginnings of Rhetorical Algebra 76
Egyptian Geometry 81
Chapter 4 The Beginnings of Written Mathematics: Babylonia 91
Sources of Babylonian Mathematics 95
The Babylonian Number System 96
Babylonian Algebra 108
Babylonian Geometry 113
Chapter 5 Egyptian and Babylonian Mathematics: An Assessment 125
Chapter 6 Ancient Chinese Mathematics 130
Background and Sources 130
The Development of Chinese Numerals 140
Chinese Magic Squares (and Other Designs) 148
Mathematics from the Chiu Chang 156
Chapter 7 Special Topics in Chinese Mathematics 178
The 'Piling-up of Rectangles': The Pythagorean Theorem in China 180
Estimation of tt 188
Solution of Higher-order Equations and Pascal's Triangle 197
Indeterminate Analysis in China 205
Chinese Mathematics: A Final Assessment 211
Chapter 8 Ancient Indian Mathematics 215
A Restatement of Intent and a Brief Historical Sketch 215
Maths from Bricks: Evidence from the Harappan Culture 221
Mathematics from the Vedas 224
Early Indian Numerals and Their Development 239
Jaina Mathematics 249
Mathematics on the Eve of the Classical Period 256
Chapter 9 Indian Mathematics: The Classical Period and After 264
Major Indian Mathematician-Astronomers 265
Indian Algebra 272
Indian Trigonometry 280
Kerala Mathematics 286
Other Notable Contributions 294
Chapter 10 Prelude to Modern Mathematics: The Arab Contribution 301
Historical Background 301
Major Arab Mathematicians 304
The Arab Role in the Rise and Spread of Indian Numerals 311
Arab Arithmetic 316
Arab Algebra 324
Arab Geometry 333
Arab Trigonometry 338
The Arab Conhibution: A Final Assessment 344
Reflections 349
The History of Mathematics: Alternative Perspectives 349
Mathematics from Bones, Strings and Standing Stones 357
The Beginnings of Written Mathematics: Egypt 369
The Beginnings of Written Mathematics: Babylonia 377
Ancient Chinese Mathematics 385
Special Topics in Chinese Mathematics 389
Ancient Indian Mathematics 395
Indian Mathematics: The Classical Period and After 406
Prelude to Modem Mathematics: The Arab Contribution 417
Bibliography 425
Name Index 441
Subject Index 447