The History of Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction

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Mathematics is a fundamental human activity that can be practised and understood in a multitude of ways; indeed, mathematical ideas themselves are far from being fixed, but are adapted and changed by their passage across periods and cultures. In this Very Short Introduction, Jacqueline Stedall explores the rich historical and cultural diversity of mathematical endeavour from the distant past to the present day. Arranged thematically, to exemplify the varied contexts in which people have learned, used, and handed on mathematics, she also includes illustrative case studies drawn from a range of times and places, including early imperial China, the medieval Islamic world, and nineteenth-century Britain. Uses a thematic development of ideas, to draw examples and identify themes from a wide variety of times and places Examines how the definition of mathematics has changed through history, with eventual professionalization Considers how the teaching and learning of mathematics has developed Uses illustrative case studies including examples from early imperial China, the medieval Islamic world, and nineteenth-century Britain Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - over three million copies sold worldwide About the Author Jacqueline Stedall researches and teaches history of mathematics at the University of Oxford. She has written a number of books on Early Modern European mathematics and co-edited, with Eleanor Robson, The Oxford Handbook of the history of mathematics. She is a longstanding member of the British Society for the History of Mathematics and Editor of its Bulletin.

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1 Mathematics myth and history 2 What is mathematics and who is a mathematician? 3 How are mathematical ideas disseminated? 4 Learning mathematics 5 Mathematical livelihoods 6 Getting inside mathematics 7 The evolving historiography of mathematics Further reading