New Book: The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam

Princeton University Press

The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam: A Sourcebook
Edited by Victor J. Katz
Section Authors: Annette Imhausen, Eleanor Robson, Joseph W. Dauben, Kim Plofker & J. Lennart Berggren

In recent decades it has become obvious that mathematics has always been a worldwide activity. But this is the first book to provide a substantial collection of English translations of key mathematical texts from the five most important ancient and medieval non-Western mathematical cultures, and to put them into full historical and mathematical context. The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam gives English readers a firsthand understanding and appreciation of these cultures' important contributions to world mathematics.

The five section authors--Annette Imhausen (Egypt), Eleanor Robson (Mesopotamia), Joseph Dauben (China), Kim Plofker (India), and J. Lennart Berggren (Islam)--are experts in their fields. Each author has selected key texts and in many cases provided new translations. The authors have also written substantial section introductions that give an overview of each mathematical culture and explanatory notes that put each selection into context.