The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam

This is the first major sourcebook in English for the history of mathematics in Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China, and the Middle East. It is notable for the wide variety of sources, which will challenge preconceptions everywhere, as well as for the clarity and force of the introductions to the mathematical cultures on display. The authors are leading authorities in their subjects, and the scholarship is of the highest order. This book will be an irreplaceable source for a general mathematical readership. -- Jeremy J. Gray, author of "The History of Mathematics: A Reader and The Hilbert Challenge" Unique and timely, this book will enrich students' and general mathematical readers' understanding of the depth and power of non-Western mathematics for decades to come, and I will be first in line to buy it. It presents fuller portraits of the mathematical histories of these five non-Western cultures than are found in other books. One of the greatest strengths of the book is its scholarship. All of the authors are established or renowned scholars, and they have done a uniformly good job of selecting readings that give a cross-section of their subject. -- Glen Van Brummelen, coeditor of "Mathematics and the Historian's Craft"

Provides a collection of English translations of mathematical texts from five important ancient and medieval non-Western mathematical cultures, and puts them into historical and mathematical context. This book is intended for mathematics teachers who want to use non-Western mathematical ideas in the classroom.In recent decades it has become obvious that mathematics has always been a worldwide activity. But this is the first book to provide a substantial collection of English translations of key mathematical texts from the five most important ancient and medieval non-Western mathematical cultures, and to put them into full historical and mathematical context. The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam gives English readers a firsthand understanding and appreciation of these cultures' important contributions to world mathematics. The five section authors--Annette Imhausen (Egypt), Eleanor Robson (Mesopotamia), Joseph Dauben (China), Kim Plofker (India), and J. Lennart Berggren (Islam)--are experts in their fields. Each author has selected key texts and in many cases provided new translations. The authors have also written substantial section introductions that give an overview of each mathematical culture and explanatory notes that put each selection into context. This authoritative commentary allows readers to understand the sometimes unfamiliar mathematics of these civilizations and the purpose and significance of each text. Addressing a critical gap in the mathematics literature in English, this book is an essential resource for anyone with at least an undergraduate degree in mathematics who wants to learn about non-Western mathematical developments and how they helped shape and enrich world mathematics. The book is also an indispensable guide for mathematics teachers who want to use non-Western mathematical ideas in the classroom.