The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization
An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization Pre-History and Mesopotamia J. Dylan Schofield Boise State University April 2, 2015 J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer Coming Attractions 1 2 3 4 An Overview Why Math and History shouldn’t be taught together Before Greece Before Western Civilization The Gist of Prehistoric Math Significance The Ishango Bone Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Entering Civilization Why Math Exists Because Babylon is not an indoor sport with hoops Closer In Conclusion Acknowledgements Question Time J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer Why Math and History shouldn’t be taught together Before Greece Why Math and History shouldn’t be taught together The history of mathematics is... long. confusing. still debated. Obviously, with such examples as Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes, we know that mathematics was a pretty solid science in Western culture by the time of Ancient Greece. J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer Why Math and History shouldn’t be taught together Before Greece Before Greece, and into Uncharted Waters There are three periods/locations of Western civilization to examine prior to Ancient Greece. Ancient Egypt Ancient Mesopotamia Prehistoric times Let us today focus on prehistoric times and Ancient Mesopotamia. J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer The Gist of Prehistoric Math Significance The Ishango Bone Mein Gott, he can’t be serious, can he...? Prehistoric mathematics refers to mathematical operations prior to the beginnings of recorded history in approx. 3,500 BCE. A few descriptive traits: No multiplicative operations Very few additive operations Mostly counting and tallying J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer The Gist of Prehistoric Math Significance The Ishango Bone And your point being? Despite the lack of “advanced” operations, concepts worthy of note from a mathematical standpoint can still be observed in prehistoric times. The Ishango bone Language concepts Geometric patterns What’s more, the lack of mathematical concepts prior to the beginnings of agriculture and trade suggest a connection between the two. J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer The Gist of Prehistoric Math Significance The Ishango Bone The Ishango Bone J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer Entering Civilization Why Math Exists Because Babylon is not an indoor sport with hoops Now, back to our scheduled program In the previous section, we discussed mathematics (or the lack thereof) before the dawn of “civilized” man. To determine where mathematics got its start and why, we turn to Ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerians are given credit for giving many great contributions to humankind: Invention of the city-state Advances in agriculture Invention of the written word J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer Entering Civilization Why Math Exists Because Babylon is not an indoor sport with hoops The world’s first word problems This last point seems a bit important. Why did the Sumerians develop writing? The old way “I got an idea!” The birth of cuneiform script Denouement J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer Entering Civilization Why Math Exists Because Babylon is not an indoor sport with hoops Because Babylon is not an indoor sport with hoops As the earliest mathematics in Sumer is still under great debate, mathematicians tend to study Old Babylonian mathematics, as there is solid evidence about how much the science had progressed by that point. Notation Math “grammar” A little problem solving J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer In Conclusion Acknowledgements Question Time IN CONCLUSION... Subject has listed the three periods of mathematics prior to the birth of Ancient Greece. Subject has discussed the evidence of prehistoric math. Subject has explained the details surrounding origins of mathematics. Subject has racked yet another point to the Sumerians. Subject has demonstrated examples of how mathematics problems were handled in Old Babylon. Subject has created slide titles that would make George Carlin turn in his grave and then puke. J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer In Conclusion Acknowledgements Question Time To Avoid the Lawyers Here’s a few of the books and websites I consulted to create this presentation. Katz, Victor J.“Egypt and Mesopotamia.” A History of Mathematics. Brief ed. New York: Pearson Education, 2004. 1-24. Print. Mastin, Luke. ”Prehistoric Mathematics.” The Story of Mathematics. 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2015. <http://www.storyofmathematics.com/prehistoric.html>. Bhugra, Ankita, Anu Meha, and Thulasi K. Raj. ”Major Inventions in Ancient Mesopotamia.” Ancient Mesopotamians. 14 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ancientmesopotamians.com/ancientmesopotamian-inventions.html>. J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization An Overview Before Western Civilization Sumerian and Babylonian Mathematics Closer In Conclusion Acknowledgements Question Time I know you’re only clapping because it’s over Thank you! Any questions? J. Dylan Schofield The Birth of Mathematics in Western civilization
© Copyright 2024