34740 - History of Mathematics

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Docente: Salvatore Coen
  • Credits: 9
  • SSD: MAT/04
  • Language: Italian
  • Moduli: Maria Giulia Lugaresi (Modulo 2) Salvatore Coen (Modulo 1)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 2) Traditional lectures (Modulo 1)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Mathematics (cod. 8208)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has an in-depth historical and epistemological knowledge of the main key themes of mathematics and mathematical thought. He also possesses a good general overview of the evolution of mathematics and mathematical thought.

Course contents

Mathematics (Arithmetics, Algebra, Geometry) in sumerian, babylonian, egyptian civilizations.
Thales, Pythagoras. Maths in Plato and greek mathematics before Plato.
Euclid's Elements. Ruler and compass constructions. Proportion Theory as in the Book V of the Elements.
A short survey on mathematics in the Alexandrian period: Archimedes. Apollonius of Perga. Diophantus of Alexandria, Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria, Heron of Alexandria, Diophantus of Alexandria.

Readings/Bibliography

Euclide, Gli Elementi, a cura di Attilio Frajese e Lamberto Maccioni. 1996.
Thomas Heath, A History of Greek Mathematics, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1921,
Morris Kline, Storia del pensiero matematico, Einuadi Editore, 1991.
Carl B. Boyer, Uta C. Merzbach, A History of Mathematics, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Several other recent editions.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons

Office hours

See the website of Salvatore Coen

See the website of Maria Giulia Lugaresi