Subject Guide
Getting Started
This course guide provides students who are enrolled in MATH308: Historical Development of Mathematical Concepts and Ideas with a starting point for their research assignments. It was developed in collaboration with the instructors of the course. A majority of the books (print or electronic versions) listed in the "Additional References for those choosing this topic for their term paper" section found at the bottom of the weekly lectures page in Canvas appear in the guide. If the book was reviewed by MAA, either in Convergent or MAA Reviews, a link to the review is included in the description section of the book.
There are three possibilities for accessing a book (print or electronic) at the library:
- If you see a Call Number (e.g., QA21...), it means the library owns a print copy of the book.
- "Available Online" - means the library provides access to the e-book.
- "Available Upon Request" - means the library does not own a copy of the book.
The texts in this guide will help you find good information for MATH308. This guide is by no means comprehensive; rather, it is intended to serve as a starting point for your research and assignments. If you have questions about the guide or would like to request a consultation, please contact William Simpson, the subject librarian for mathematics.
As per the course syllabus, Katz, V. J. (2018). A history of mathematics : an introduction (Third edition.). Pearson, is the recommended text for MATH308. A print copy of the text is available at the Help Center (i.e., the main desk) at the Morris Library. The book has been placed on Reserve for Spring 2025. See Using Reserve Materials for details about using the text.
History of Mathematics, an Introduction by Call Number: QA21 .K33 2018ISBN: 9780134689524Publication Date: 2018A History of Mathematics, 3rd Edition (2018) an updated version provides a solid background in the history of mathematics and focuses on the most important topics for today's elementary, high school and college curricula. Students will gain a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts in their historical context, and future teachers will find this book a valuable resource in developing lesson plans based on the history of each topic.
History of Math Toolbox, or Historiography and Methodology for Mathematicians: Introduction – References
The texts, below, from Amy Ackerberg-Hastings (MAA Convergence), "HoM Toolbox, or Historiography and Methodology for Mathematicians: Introduction – References," Convergence (December 2022)
Companion Encyclopedia of the History and Philosophy of the Mathematical Sciences by Call Number: QA21 .C645 1994ISBN: 9780415037853Publication Date: 1993DESCRIPTION: Examines the history and philosophy of the mathematical sciences in a cultural context, tracing their evolution from ancient times up to the twentieth century * 176 articles contributed by authors of 18 nationalities * Chronological table of main events in the development of mathematics * Fully integrated index of people, events and topics * Annotated bibliographies of both classic and contemporary sources * Unique coverage of Ancient and non-Western traditions of mathematics.
See pt. 13 Talepiece: The History of Mathematics and Its Own History.
History and Philosophy of Modern Mathematics by Call Number: Available OnlineISBN: 0816653054Publication Date: 1988History and Philosophy of Modern Mathematics was first published in 1988. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. The fourteen essays in this volume build on the pioneering effort of Garrett Birkhoff, professor of mathematics at Harvard University, who in 1974 organized a conference of mathematicians and historians of modern mathematics to examine how the two disciplines approach the history of mathematics. In History and Philosophy of Modern Mathematics, William Aspray and Philip Kitcher bring together distinguished scholars from mathematics, history, and philosophy to assess the current state of the field. Their essays, which grow out of a 1985 conference at the University of Minnesota, develop the basic premise that mathematical thought needs to be studied from an interdisciplinary perspective. The opening essays study issues arising within logic and the foundations of mathematics, a traditional area of interest to historians and philosophers. The second section examines issues in the history of mathematics within the framework of established historical periods and questions. Next come case studies that illustrate the power of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of mathematics. The collection closes with a look at mathematics from a sociohistorical perspective, including the way institutions affect what constitutes mathematical knowledge.
The History of Mathematics by Call Number: QA21 .S743x 2012ISBN: 9780199599684Publication Date: 2012Mathematics is a fundamental human activity that can be practised and understood in a multitude of ways; indeed, mathematical ideas themselves are far from being fixed, but are adapted and changed by their passage across periods and cultures. In this Very Short Introduction, Jacqueline Stedallexplores the rich historical and cultural diversity of mathematical endeavour from the distant past to the present day.Arranged thematically, to exemplify the varied contexts in which people have learned, used, and handed on mathematics, she also includes illustrative case studies drawn from a range of times and places, including early imperial China, the medieval Islamic world, and nineteenth-centuryBritain.
How to Read Historical Mathematics by Call Number: QA21 .W324 2010 and Available OnlineISBN: 9780691140148Publication Date: 2010Techniques for deciphering texts by early mathematicians Writings by early mathematicians feature language and notations that are quite different from what we're familiar with today. Sourcebooks on the history of mathematics provide some guidance, but what has been lacking is a guide tailored to the needs of readers approaching these writings for the first time. How to Read Historical Mathematics fills this gap by introducing readers to the analytical questions historians ask when deciphering historical texts. Sampling actual writings from the history of mathematics, Benjamin Wardhaugh reveals the questions that will unlock the meaning and significance of a given text--Who wrote it, why, and for whom? What was its author's intended meaning? How did it reach its present form? Is it original or a translation? Why is it important today? Wardhaugh teaches readers to think about what the original text might have looked like, to consider where and when it was written, and to formulate questions of their own. Readers pick up new skills with each chapter, and gain the confidence and analytical sophistication needed to tackle virtually any text in the history of mathematics. Introduces readers to the methods of textual analysis used by historians Uses actual source material as examples Features boxed summaries, discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading Supplements all major sourcebooks in mathematics history Designed for easy reference Ideal for students and teachers.
Reviewed by MAA Reviews
Teleology Revisited and Other Essays in the Philosophy and History of Science by Call Number: B67 .N33ISBN: 9780231045049Publication Date: 1979Chapter 4: "Impossible numbers": a chapter in the history of modern logic"
The Whig Interpretation of History by Call Number: D13 .B8 1951ISBN: 9780393003185Publication Date: 1951It is not as easy to understand the past as many who have written it would have us believe. The historians who look at it from the Protestant, progressive, "19th Century gentleman" viewpoint are defined by Professor Butterfield as "the Whig historians." The Whig historian studies the past with reference to the present. He looks for agency in history. And, in his search for origins and causes, he can easily select those facts that give support to his thesis and thus eliminate other facts equally important to the total picture.
Essays on the History of Mathematics
Monthly essays on mathematical topics published by AMS columnists.
Image by Scott Carter -- USA Mathematics Faculty Member
Black History Month - This month, Notices of the AMS celebrates 10 decades of Black mathematicians, making contributions to a range of research in the mathematical sciences.