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History of Mathematics: Chronological Divisions I

Contains background information, major areas of research focused on chronological, geographical or thematic fields. Includes important books, journals and databases in the Linda Hall Library collections. Also mentions our History of Science Collection.

Ancient Mathematics

Ancient Mathematics:  Includes mathematical knowledge in the major civilizations, such as Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Persian, Mayan and more.

Greek Mathematics

Greek Mathematics:  (roughly 600 BC to 400 BC).  Because of the foundational role of Greek mathematics, especially geometry, for all subsequent discoveries and developments, this is one of the most prominent fields of research, including the development of the axiomatic method, proof procedures, irrational numbers, etc.

Medieval Mathematics

Medieval Mathematics:  (roughly 400 to 1400).  A comparatively lesser field somewhat reflecting the decline of mathematics in the West before its resurgence in the work of such figures as Leonardo Pisano and the spread of the Hindu-Arabic numerical notations.

Fellows Lecture : Cynthia Huffman

Renaissance Mathematics

Renaissance Mathematics:  (roughly 1400 to 1600).  This period witnessed crucial development beyond the scope of Greek mathematics:  the growth of algebra, including the first solutions to cubic and quartic equations, the early use of negative and imaginary numbers, trigonometric formulae, etc.

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