George Gheverghese Joseph

The Crest of the Peacock

1. IDEA 1

   Mathematics has many birthplaces

   Joseph challenges the common story that mathematics began in ancient Greece and was revived in Europe. He argues that Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India and the Arab world all made major and original contributions.

2. IDEA 2

   The usual story leaves people out

   Joseph describes a Eurocentric view of history that treats non-European mathematics as minor or borrowed. He argues that this view distorts what actually happened. In his view, many cultures took part in building mathematics, not only Greece and Europe.

3. IDEA 3

   Ancient Egypt and Babylon calculated

   Joseph describes the sophisticated mathematics of ancient Egypt and Babylon, including fractions, geometry and tables. Babylonian scribes worked with a base-sixty number system. Such tools were used for trade, building and tracking the calendar.

All 8 ideas from The Crest of the Peacock →