One of the leading historians in the mathematics field, Victor Katz provides a world view of mathematics, balancing
ancient, early modern, and modern history.
Features
Written by one of the most well-known math historians. The First Edition won the Watson Davis prize of the
History of Science Society in 1995 for book on history accessible to beginners.
Chronology of major mathematicians at chapter ends gives a quick overview of important events and people.
Problems are taken from original sources enabling readers to understand how mathematicians in various times
and places solved math problems.
Discussion questions promote group work and can be used by future teachers to design lessons for elementary/secondary
level math classes.
An annotated bibliography at each chapter end provides easy reference to sources for more information.
Includes a phonetic pronunciation guide in an appendix.
Up to date-uses results of very recent scholarship in the subject.
Exercises are balanced in level of difficulty.
Offers a more global perspective. Integrates more non-Western coverage including contributions from Chinese,
Indian, and Islamic mathematics/mathematicians.
Significant amount of material on astronomy as it relates to the history of mathematics. Covers the history
of some significant 20th century developments in mathematics.
Appendix on using the textbook in teaching mathematics.
Table of Contents
1. Egypt and Mesopotamia.
2. Greek Mathematics to the Time of Euclid.
3. Greek Mathematics from Archimedes to Ptolemy.
4. Diophantus to Hypatia.
5. Ancient and Medieval China.
6. Ancient and Medieval India.
7. The Mathematics of Islam.
8. Mathematics in Medieval Europe.
9. Mathematics in the Renaissance.
10. Precalculus in the Seventeenth Century.
11. Calculus in the Seventeenth Century.
12. Analysis in the Eighteenth Century.
13. Probability and Statistics in the Eighteenth Century.
14. Algebra and Number Theory in the Eighteenth Century.
15. Geometry in the Eighteenth Century.
16. Algebra and Number Theory in the Nineteenth Century.
