Mathematics is one of the oldest disciplines known to man, a testament to man's need to quantify, measure, and understand the world. Its history stretches out over thousands of years and touches upon many cultures-from the earliest counting to the intricacies of theories we use today.
Ancient Origins
Ancient Math Math has ancient parts that have recorded history that stretches thousands of years into the past, where early peoples were using arithmetic for simple counting. History demonstrates, through tally sticks and the Ishango bone, 20,000 years old, that arithmetic was used to manage business and inventories, among other things.
Mesopotamia and Egypt: The first real advances in mathematics were made by the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia-present-day Iraq-and Egypt. Around 3000 BCE, the Sumerians created the base-60 number system which eventually was passed down to the world: there are 60 seconds in a minute, and 60 minutes in an hour. The Egyptians used a base-10 number system for engineering purposes such as land surveying and taxes calculations; they applied geometry to raise the pyramids for instance.
Classical Mathematics
Greek Mathematics: The Greeks created the most monumental mathematics between about 600 BC and AD 300 based upon deductive reasoning and formal proof. Most of…
