What the Romans learnt from Greek mathematics

AlphaGalileo ^ | Saturday, February 28, 2009 | University of Gothenburg

[SunkenCiv]

Greek mathematics is considered one of the great intellectual achievements of antiquity. It has been decisive to the academic and cultural development of Western civilisation. The three Roman authors Varro, Cicero and Vitruvius were all, in their own way, influenced by Greek knowledge and transferred it to Roman literature. In his dissertation, Erik Bohlin, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, studied the traces of Greek influence on these authors with regard to the mathematical branch of geometry... According to some sources, the Roman author Varro is supposed to have written a book on the subject of geometry... Cicero's rhetorical and philosophical writings contain many passages that deal with or touch on the subject of geometry. Geometry and geometric knowledge are fundamental in Vitruvius' De architectura (On architecture). There are many passages in which geometry is applied practically or which assume that the reader is familiar with it. The dissertation comments on and interprets a selection of significant passages from both these authors. For Vitruvius, the practical use of geometry does of course come first: geometric designs are required in architecture, not least, to achieve exact drawings. In general, the scientific view of the Romans was strongly influenced by limiting utilitarianism: only knowledge with immediate practical use was worth cultivating.

[SunkenCiv]

"Then why are they a province of ours, instead of us being one of theirs?" -- from the BBC's 'I Claudius'

[SunkenCiv]

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[OneVike]

Ping for later read.

[Radix]

I enjoyed the article and the links embedded. Thanks.

 

 

Democritus of Abdera (470-400 BC), Greek philosopher and the father of atomic theory. Democritus published works on ethics, physics, mathematics, cosmology and music. Very little has survived but his theories are known through commentaries on his work by later philosophers. In his atomic theory he stated that matter is made up of tiny indivisible particles called atoms. The properties of different substances were determined by the physical features of the atoms. For instance, atoms of water were smooth and round whilst atoms of fire were thorny. He believed that the motion of atoms was dictated by definite universal laws of nature and not by the will of the Gods. -

[Tanniker Smith]

math teacher ping for later

[dr_lew]

"Then why are they a province of ours, instead of us being one of theirs?" -- from the BBC's 'I Claudius'