A good book. A research thesis of Ian G Pearce.
Indian Mathematics: Redressing the balance
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Contrary to Euroscentric belief, scholars from India, over a period of some 4500 years, contributed to some of the greatest mathematical achievements in the history of the subject. From the earliest numerate civilisation of the Indus valley, through the scholars of the 5th to 12th centuries who were conversant in arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, geometry combinatorics and latterly differential calculus, Indian scholars led the world in the field of mathematics. The peak coming between the 14th and 16th centuries in the far South, where scholars were the first to derive infinite series expansions of trigonometric functions.
In addition to mighty contributions to all the principal areas of mathematics, Indian scholars were responsible for the creation, and refinement of the current decimal place value system of numeration, including the number zero, without which higher mathematics would not be possible. The purpose of my project is to highlight the major mathematical contributions of Indian scholars and further to emphasise where neglect has occurred and hence elucidate why the Eurocentric ideal is an injustice and in some cases complete fabrication.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
CONTENTS:
Abstract
Introduction
Early Indian culture - Indus civilisation
Mathematics in the service of religion:
I. Vedas and Vedangas
II. Sulba Sutras
Jainism
The Bakhshali manuscript
Decimal numeration and the place-value system
The Classical period:
I Introduction
II. Aryabhata and his commentators
III. Brahmagupta, and the influence on Arabia
IV. Mathematics over the next 400 years (700AD-1100AD)
V. Bhaskaracharya II
VI. Pell's equation
VII. The end of the Classic period and the state of Indian mathematics abroad by the 12th century
Keralese mathematics:
I. Introduction
II. Mathematicians of Kerala
III. Madhava of Sangamagramma
IV. Possible transmission of Keralese mathematics to Europe
Conclusions
References
Indian Mathematics: Redressing the balance
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Contrary to Euroscentric belief, scholars from India, over a period of some 4500 years, contributed to some of the greatest mathematical achievements in the history of the subject. From the earliest numerate civilisation of the Indus valley, through the scholars of the 5th to 12th centuries who were conversant in arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, geometry combinatorics and latterly differential calculus, Indian scholars led the world in the field of mathematics. The peak coming between the 14th and 16th centuries in the far South, where scholars were the first to derive infinite series expansions of trigonometric functions.
In addition to mighty contributions to all the principal areas of mathematics, Indian scholars were responsible for the creation, and refinement of the current decimal place value system of numeration, including the number zero, without which higher mathematics would not be possible. The purpose of my project is to highlight the major mathematical contributions of Indian scholars and further to emphasise where neglect has occurred and hence elucidate why the Eurocentric ideal is an injustice and in some cases complete fabrication.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
CONTENTS:
Abstract
Introduction
Early Indian culture - Indus civilisation
Mathematics in the service of religion:
I. Vedas and Vedangas
II. Sulba Sutras
Jainism
The Bakhshali manuscript
Decimal numeration and the place-value system
The Classical period:
I Introduction
II. Aryabhata and his commentators
III. Brahmagupta, and the influence on Arabia
IV. Mathematics over the next 400 years (700AD-1100AD)
V. Bhaskaracharya II
VI. Pell's equation
VII. The end of the Classic period and the state of Indian mathematics abroad by the 12th century
Keralese mathematics:
I. Introduction
II. Mathematicians of Kerala
III. Madhava of Sangamagramma
IV. Possible transmission of Keralese mathematics to Europe
Conclusions
References