A lively accessible history of mathematics throughout the ages and across the globe
Mathematics is fundamental to our daily lives. Science computing economics—all aspects of
modern life rely on some kind of maths. But how did our ancestors think about numbers? How did
they use mathematics to explain and understand the world around them? Where do numbers even
come from? In this Little History Snezana Lawrence traces the fascinating history of
mathematics from the Egyptians and Babylonians to Renaissance masters and enigma codebreakers.
Like literature music or philosophy mathematics has a rich history of breakthroughs
creativity and experimentation. And its story is a global one. We see Chinese Mathematical Art
from 200 BCE the invention of algebra in Baghdad’s House of Wisdom and sangaku geometrical
theorems at Japanese shrines. Lawrence goes beyond the familiar names of Newton and Pascal
exploring the prominent role women have played in the history of maths including Emmy Noether
and Maryam Mirzakhani.
