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1.5. Orígenes. Los antiguos y las matemáticas.
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1.5. Orígenes. Los antiguos y las matemáticas.

Mathematics in Antiquity

In this section, we learn about the origins of mathematics in Babylon and how it was used to solve everyday problems related to government, law, and measurement.

Mathematics in Babylon

  • The first known studies on mathematics were found in Babylon.
  • Thousands of tablets with cuneiform writing on mud make up a whole compendium of operations that were copied by apprentices of scribes.
  • Scribes and scholars devoted themselves to solving everyday problems related to government, law, and measurement.

Development of Mathematical Operations

  • Mathematical operations were used for marking out a reservoir, designing fields, and other tasks that required precise measurements.
  • A sexagesimal system was developed for expressing numerical series in writing.
  • The Greeks developed a different approach to mathematics focused on inference and proof.

Pythagoras and Hellenistic Mathematics

  • Pythagoras was an expert in immortality, reincarnation, bodily rituals, and disciplines.
  • Hellenistic mathematicians wanted to distance themselves from philosophers but still studied mathematics as soldiers, philosophers or physicians.
  • Euclid is one of the most distinguished figures linked to the Alexandrian world who created works on arithmetic, algebra and geometry.

Application of Mathematics

  • The application of mathematics based on knowledge provided by the Alexandrian school was seen in areas such as astronomy, optics or scales/lever principles.
  • Models theoretical constructions led to their success and importance.
Video description

Autor: Ferragud, Carmel; Serie: MOOC Historia de la Ciencia Data: 2017 Resum: La antigua Babilonia fue escenario de los primeros estudios conocidos de las matemáticas, al igual que la civilización egipcia. Con todo, estas dos grandes civilizaciones desarrollaron una extraordinaria y compleja administración y un sistema de gobierno que hubiera sido impensable sin un método escriturario y lo que de él se derivó. Todo aquel conocimiento fue fundamental para los avances posteriores de las matemáticas en el mundo griego. Música: Good mood song by Jerry Sterling; Producció: Servei de Formació Permanent i Innovació Educativa (http://www.uv.es/sfpie)