Brian Evans 
The Development of Mathematics Throughout the Centuries 
A Brief History in a Cultural Context

Throughout the book, readers take a journey throughout time and
observe how people around the world have understood these patterns
of quantity, structure, and dimension around them. The
Development of Mathematics Throughout the Centuries: A Brief
History in a Cultural Contex provides a brief overview of the
history of mathematics in a very straightforward and understandable
manner and also addresses major findings that influenced the
development of mathematics as a coherent discipline. This book:

* Highlights the contributions made by various world cultures
including African, Egyptian, Babylonian, Chinese, Indian, Islamic,
and pre-Columbian American mathematics

* Features an approach that is not too rigorous and is ideal
for a one-semester course of the history of mathematics.

* Includes a Resources and Recommended Reading section for
further exploration and has been extensively classroom-tested

Table of Content

Introduction ix

PART 1 MATHEMATICS IN AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION 1

1 ANCIENT CIVILIZATION MATHEMATICS: AFRICA AS OUR BIRTHPLACE 3

2 ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MATHEMATICS: THE TIME OF THE PHARAOHS 7

3 BABYLONIAN MATHEMATICS: THE MESOPOTAMIAN CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION 17

4 GREEK MATHEMATICS: THE ARCHAIC PERIOD 25

5 GREEK MATHEMATICS: THE CLASSICAL PERIOD 37

6 GREEK MATHEMATICS: THE HELLENISTIC AND ROMAN/ BYZANTINE PERIODS 45

PART 2 MATHEMATICS IN ASIA AND PRE-COLUMBIAN AMERICA 59

7 CHINESE MATHEMATICS: ANCIENT TIMES TO THE MIDDLE AGES 61

8 INDIAN MATHEMATICS: ANCIENT TIMES TO THE MIDDLE AGES 75

9 ISLAMIC MATHEMATICS: PRESERVATION, INNOVATION, AND CONNECTION BETWEEN EAST AND WEST 87

10 PRE-COLUMBIAN AMERICAN MATHEMATICS: THE OLMEC, MAYA, AND INCA CIVILIZATIONS 97

PART 3 MATHEMATICS IN EUROPE 105

11 EUROPEAN MATHEMATICS: THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE RENAISSANCE 107

12 EUROPEAN MATHEMATICS: THE 17TH CENTURY 123

13 EUROPEAN MATHEMATICS: THE 18TH CENTURY 143

14 EUROPEAN MATHEMATICS: THE 19TH CENTURY 157

PART 4 MATHEMATICS IN THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES 175

15 EUROPEAN, AMERICAN, AND GLOBAL MATHEMATICS: THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES 177

16 EUROPEAN, AMERICAN, AND GLOBAL MATHEMATICS: A SHIFT IN THE 20TH CENTURY 199

17 AMERICAN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION: THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES 207

Resources and Recommended Readings 219

Index 221

About the author

BRIAN R. EVANS is Department Chair and Associate
Professor of Mathematics Education in the School of Education at
Pace University in New York. He has authored over twenty-five
publications and teaches pedagogical and content courses in
mathematics including the history of mathematics. He is also
managing editor for the peer reviewed Journal of the National
Association for Alternative Certification.