Africa and Mathematics: From Colonial Findings Back to the Ishango Rods

Author:   Dirk Huylebrouck
Publisher:   Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Edition:   1st ed. 2019
ISBN:  

9783030040369


Pages:   229
Publication Date:   08 April 2019
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
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Africa and Mathematics: From Colonial Findings Back to the Ishango Rods


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Overview

This volume on ethnomathematics in Central Africa fills a gap in the current literature, focusing on a region rarely explored by other publications. It highlights the discovery of the Ishango rod, which was found to be the oldest mathematical tool in humanity's history, thereby shifting the origin of mathematics to the heart of Africa, and explores the different scientific hypotheses that emerged as a result. While it contains some high-level mathematics, the non-mathematical reader can easily skip these portions and enjoy the book’s survey of African history, culture, and art.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dirk Huylebrouck
Publisher:   Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Imprint:   Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Edition:   1st ed. 2019
Weight:   0.541kg
ISBN:  

9783030040369


ISBN 10:   3030040364
Pages:   229
Publication Date:   08 April 2019
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

"Foreword.- Introduction.- Part I: Mathematics in the Heart of Africa.- 1. Rationale and Sources.- 2. Storytelling and Music.- 3. Creative Counting.- 4. Drawings.- 5. Reasoning Without Writing.- 6. Multiplication in the Yoruba and ""Ethiopian"" Way.- Part II: The Ishango Rod(s).- 7. The Ishango Site.- 8. Mathematical Carvings.- 9. Missing Link.- 10. Not Out of Africa.- 11. A Second Rod.- Part III: Epilogue.- 12. Museum Visit, Teaching, Research.- References."

Reviews

The book will be of interest for undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as for non-mathematical readers and researchers in various fields. It is a good survey of African history, culture, arts, popular games and daily life. (U. D'Ambrosio, Mathematical Reviews, April, 2020) This book fills a gap in studies on ethnomathematics in Central Africa. ... This book is not particularly about mathematics itself; readers will enjoy the book as a survey of African art, culture and history. The book does contain beautiful figures, imprints and photographs in colour. Highly acclaimed! (Robert W. van der Waall, zbMath 1417.01001, 2019)


This book fills a gap in studies on ethnomathematics in Central Africa. ... This book is not particularly about mathematics itself; readers will enjoy the book as a survey of African art, culture and history. The book does contain beautiful figures, imprints and photographs in colour. Highly acclaimed! (Robert W. van der Waall, zbMath 1417.01001, 2019)


“Africa and Mathematics is an excellent source for anyone interested in the history of mathematics, and it is a major asset in ethnomathematics. It will be useful to undergraduates, postgraduates and teachers as well as the general reader.” (Firdous Ahmad Mala, The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 106 (566), July, 2022) “The book will be of interest for undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as for non-mathematical readers and researchers in various fields. It is a good survey of African history, culture, arts, popular games and daily life.” (U. D'Ambrosio, Mathematical Reviews, April, 2020) “This book fills a gap in studies on ethnomathematics in Central Africa. … This book is not particularly about mathematics itself; readers will enjoy the book as a survey of African art, culture and history. The book does contain beautiful figures, imprints and photographs in colour. Highly acclaimed!” (Robert W. van der Waall, zbMath 1417.01001, 2019)


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