| Next revision | Previous revision |
| babylonian_mathematics [2007/11/29 12:30] – created admin | babylonian_mathematics [2008/08/14 12:29] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
|---|
| ===== Introduction to Babylonian Mathematics ===== | ===== Introduction to Babylonian Mathematics ===== |
| |
| Mathematics was an active discipline in Mesopotamia since the earliest periods of writing in the mid-fourth millennium BC. However, if we are to judge by the number and age of the cuneiform mathematical texts we possess, it appears that mathematics reached its apex during the Old Babylonian period. | Mathematics was an active discipline in Mesopotamia since the earliest periods of writing in the mid-fourth millennium BC. However, if we are to judge by the number and age of the cuneiform mathematical texts we possess, it appears that mathematics reached its apex during the Old Babylonian period. |
| |
| At the outset, it should be mentioned that Babylonian mathematics was largely an applied science. Unlike classical Greek mathematics, Babylonian mathematics was not centered around geometric figures or abstract proofs of mathematical theorems. Instead, it focused on practical problems that could be solved algorithmically. Many texts from that era are simply multiplication tables of various sizes, designed to aid scribes in performing complicated arithmetic. Other texts describe fairly realistic situations that might arise in economic exchanges or engineering endeavors, such as constructing dams, canals, and brick walls. There are many examples of texts dealing with more general geometric or algebraic problems, but they are usually stated in terms of concrete situations such as the division of a field or distribution of rations, and are always discussed using specific values. | At the outset, it should be mentioned that Babylonian mathematics was largely an applied science. Unlike classical Greek mathematics, Babylonian mathematics was not centered around geometric figures or abstract proofs of mathematical theorems. Instead, it focused on practical problems that could be solved algorithmically. Many texts from that era are simply multiplication tables of various sizes, designed to aid scribes in performing complicated arithmetic. Other texts describe fairly realistic situations that might arise in economic exchanges or engineering endeavors, such as constructing dams, canals, and brick walls. There are many examples of texts dealing with more general geometric or algebraic problems, but they are usually stated in terms of concrete situations such as the division of a field or distribution of rations, and are always discussed using specific values. |
| | |
| Thus there are very few instances of Babylonian ‘proofs,’ or even instruction tablets that outline a general method for solving a class of problems. This is not to say that Babylonian mathematicians did not understand the abstract principles behind their solutions; they simply thought of them in the context of concrete examples, similar to the way a mechanic might think of physics principles in terms of an automobile. | Thus there are very few instances of Babylonian ‘proofs,’ or even instruction tablets that outline a general method for solving a class of problems. This is not to say that Babylonian mathematicians did not understand the abstract principles behind their solutions; they simply thought of them in the context of concrete examples, similar to the way a mechanic might think of physics principles in terms of an automobile. |
| |
| Englund, Robert K. (1988) "Administrative timekeeping in Ancient Mesopotamia" JESHO 31: 121-185. | Englund, Robert K. (1988) "Administrative timekeeping in Ancient Mesopotamia" JESHO 31: 121-185. |
| ----- and Jean-Pierre Grégoire (1991) The Proto-Cuneiform Texts from Jemdet Nasr (MSVO 1), Berlin. | ----- |
| | and Jean-Pierre Grégoire (1991) The Proto-Cuneiform Texts from Jemdet Nasr (MSVO 1), Berlin. |
| |
| Friberg, Jöran (1978) "Early Roots of Babylonian Mathematics 1. A method for the decipherment ... of proto- | Friberg, Jöran (1978) "Early Roots of Babylonian Mathematics 1. A method for the decipherment ... of proto- |
| Friberg, Jöran (1990) "Mathematik" (in English) in RlA 7 (Dietz Otto Edzard, ed.), Berlin, New York: 531-585. | Friberg, Jöran (1990) "Mathematik" (in English) in RlA 7 (Dietz Otto Edzard, ed.), Berlin, New York: 531-585. |
| |
| ----- (1992) "Numbers and counting in the Ancient Near East" in The Anchor Bible Dictionary (D. N. Freedman, | ----- |
| | |
| | (1992) "Numbers and counting in the Ancient Near East" in The Anchor Bible Dictionary (D. N. Freedman, |
| ed.) New York, etc.: 1139-1146. | ed.) New York, etc.: 1139-1146. |
| |
| ----- (2000) "Mesopotamian mathematics" in The History of Mathematics from Antiquity to Present. A | ----- |
| | |
| | (2000) "Mesopotamian mathematics" in The History of Mathematics from Antiquity to Present. A |
| Selective Annotated Bibliography. Revised edition on CD-ROM (J. W. Dauben, ed.), American Mathematical | Selective Annotated Bibliography. Revised edition on CD-ROM (J. W. Dauben, ed.), American Mathematical |
| Society: 128-152. | Society: 128-152. |
| HistSci 34: 1-32. | HistSci 34: 1-32. |
| |
| ----- (1998) "Pythagorean 'rule' and 'theorem'- mirror of the relation between Babylonian and Greek mathematics" | ----- |
| | |
| | (1998) "Pythagorean 'rule' and 'theorem'- mirror of the relation between Babylonian and Greek mathematics" |
| RUCPS 1998(3): 1-15. | RUCPS 1998(3): 1-15. |
| |
