The Universal History of Numbers
From Prehistory to the Invention of the Computer
by Georges Ifrah · first published 2000
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A riveting history of counting and calculating from the time of the cave dwellers to the late twentieth century, The Universal History of Numbers is the first complete account of the invention and evolution of numbers the world over. As different cultures around the globe struggled with problems of harvests, constructing buildings, educating their citizens, and exploring the wonders of science, each civilization created its own unique and wonderful mathematical system. Dubbed the "Indiana Jones of numbers," Georges Ifrah traveled all over the world for ten years to uncover the little-known de
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Can anyone recommend books on the cross-cultural history of mathematics? I've found these: 1) Georges Ifrah, "Universal History of Numbers", http://www.amazon.com/Universal-History-Numbers-Prehistory-I... "the first complete account of the invention and evolution of numbers the world over ... Dubbed the "Indiana Jones of numbers," Georges…
on “Al-Jazari” ↗…Calter includes the basic lessons and explanations of a regular Geometry course in his book, but then he interweaves an integrated classical curriculum (based on deductive reasoning)" 4) Georges Ifrah, "Universal History of Numbers", http://www.amazon.com/Universal-History-Numbers-Prehistory-I... "the first complete account of the invention and evolution of numbers the world over ... Dubbed the "Indiana Jones of numbers," Georges…
on “Ask HN: Books with a high signal to noise ratio?” ↗The book 'The Universal History of Numbers' by Georges Ifrah has a vast amount of detail on this from many civilisaitons. Some of it in incredible depth.
on “The Early History of Counting” ↗…interested in the general topic of number systems let me recommend Menninger’s classic book Number Words and Number Symbols. Or you could try Chrisomalis’s other book Numerical Notation. Or Ifrah, The Universal History of Numbers. If you want to know about medieval European counting boards, look up Barnard (1916) The Casting-Counter and the Counting-Board. A neat paper about Greek use of tokens is Netz (2002) “Counter Culture”…
on “How to Multiply Roman Numerals” ↗This is discussed in The Universal History of Numbers, by Georges Ifrah. You better check the book, because it has been a long time since I read it, but he explained that most people counts 3 by 3, sometimes 2 by 2, and exceptionally 4 by 4. Only very exceptionally…
on “Seximal: A better way to count [video]” ↗I have a wonderful book in front of me called “From One to Zero: a universal history of numbers” by georges ifrah. chapter 9, roman numerals: a vestige of primitive origins? starts like this: —————————— I V X L C D M They are obviously letters of the roman alphabet, but this does not mean…
on “Why Lisp? (2015)” ↗