'Greek mathematics', as that term is used in this article, is the
mathematics written in
Greek, developed from the
6th century BC to the
5th century AD around the Eastern shores of the
Mediterranean.
Periods
'Classical Greek mathematics' refers to the mathematics studied before the
Hellenistic period, when Greek mathematics was mostly limited to the
Greek city-states in
ancient Greece,
Asia Minor,
Libya, and
Sicily.
Greek mathematics studied from the time of the
Hellenistic period onwards (from
323 BC) refers to all mathematics of those who wrote in the
Greek language, since Greek mathematics was now not only written by
Greeks but also non-Greek scholars throughout the Hellenistic world, which was spread across the Eastern end of the
Mediterranean. Greek mathematics from this point merged with
Egyptian and
Babylonian mathematics to give rise to the latter phase of Greek mathematics known as 'Hellenistic mathematics'. The most important centre of learning during this period was
Alexandria in
Egypt, which attracted scholars from across the Hellenistic world, including mostly
Greek and
Egyptian scholars, as well as
Jewish,
Persian,
Phoenician and even
Indian scholars.
[1]
Most of the mathematical texts written in Greek were found in
Greece,
Egypt,
Asia Minor,
Mesopotamia, and
Sicily.
Achievements
Greek mathematics constitutes a major period in the history of mathematics, fundamental in respect of
geometry and the idea of
formal proof. Greek mathematics also contributed importantly to ideas on
number theory,
mathematical analysis,
applied mathematics, and, at times, approached close to
integral calculus.
Well-known figures in Greek mathematics include
Pythagoras, a shadowy figure from the isle of
Samos associated partly with number mysticism and
numerology, but more commonly with his
theorem, and
Euclid, who is known for his ''
Elements'', a canon of geometry for many centuries.
The most characteristic product of Greek mathematics may be the theory of
conic sections, largely developed in the Hellenistic period. The methods used made no explicit use of
algebra, nor
trigonometry.
Origins
Greek mathematics has origins that are presumed to go back to the
7th century BC, but are not easily documented. It is generally believed that it built on the computational methods of earlier
Babylonian and
Egyptian mathematics, and it may well have had
Phoenician influences.
Greek mathematics proper is thought to have begun from the late
500s BC, when
Thales and
Pythagoras brought knowledge of
Egyptian and
Babylonian mathematics to Greece. Thales used
geometry to solve problems such as calculating the height of pyramids and the distance of ships from the shore.
Pythagoras stated the
Pythagorean theorem and constructed
Pythagorean triples algebraically, according to
Proclus' commentary on
Euclid.
The high period
Mathematical developments took place in
Greek-speaking centres as far apart as
Egypt and
Sicily, and with a high estimation of the intellectual and cultural status of mathematics (for example in the school of
Plato). ''
The Sand Reckoner'' by
Archimedes, a resident of
Syracuse, bespeaks a man who made major discoveries, and whose originality and accomplishments are commonly reckoned to be on par with those of
Isaac Newton and
C. F. Gauss.
Greek mathematics and astronomy reached a rather advanced stage during
Hellenism, with scholars such as
Hipparchus,
Posidonius and
Ptolemy, capable of the construction of simple analogue computers such as the
Antikythera mechanism.
Transmission and the manuscript tradition
Although the earliest
Greek language texts on mathematics that have been found were written after the Hellenistic period, many of these are considered to be copies of works written during and before the Hellenistic period. Nevertheless, the dates of Greek mathematics are more certain than the dates of earlier mathematical writing, since a large number of chronologies exist that, overlapping, record events year by year up to the present day. Even so, many dates are uncertain; but the doubt is a matter of decades rather than centuries.
During the
Middle Ages, Europe derived much of its knowledge of Greek mathematics ''via''
Islamic mathematics. The texts of Greek mathematics were for the most part preserved and transmitted in the
Muslim world.
See also
★
History of mathematics
References
1. George G. Joseph (2000). ''The Crest of the Peacock'', p. 7-8. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691006598.
External links
★
Vatican Exhibit
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