Introduction to Mesopotamian Mathematics [S-21-14]

Dr. Melville will provide an overview of Mesopotamian mathematics from the earliest records around 3200 BCE to the Old Babylonian period ca. 2000—1600 BCE, and perhaps briefly sketch later developments. Mesopotamia covered roughly the area of modern Iraq. The surviving records make it one of the only societies where we can trace the early development of mathematical reasoning. The brief flowering of Old Babylonian mathematics was the most sophisticated of its time.

Duncan Melville is the Martha E. ’62 and Gregg E. Peterson Professor of Mathematics at St. Lawrence University. His research field is the history of mathematics, especially the mathematics of early Mesopotamia.

Click here for recording of class on 03/16/2021.

Special Instructions: This Zoom course will not be recorded.

You will be emailed a Zoom invite the day before the class starts. Click on the link in the invite to open your Zoom app.

Cap: 100