“If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.” ~ Michael Crichton
Zeke. 2024. “Are You Suggesting Coconuts Migrate? Or Where in the World Did Mathematics Come From? (Part 1).” Mathematical Mysteries. December 15, 2024. https://mathematicalmysteries.org/2024/12/14/are-you-suggesting-coconuts-migrate-or-where-in-the-world-did-mathematics-come-from-part-1/.
Zeke. 2025. “Are You Suggesting Coconuts Migrate? Or Where in the World Did Mathematics Come From? (Part 2).” Mathematical Mysteries. January 22, 2025. https://mathematicalmysteries.org/2025/01/22/are-you-suggesting-coconuts-migrate/.
Suggested Reading
⭐ Ali. 2024. “A Long History of Mathematics: From Antiquity to Contemporary.” Medium. Medium. June 10. https://ali.medium.com/a-long-history-of-mathematics-from-antiquity-to-contemporary-101a5f76f4c0.
Mathematics might seem like a complex web of numbers and theories, but its story is quite fascinating. Imagine it as a grand adventure that began thousands of years ago and continues to this day. I’m not a math historian, and my retelling is more like sharing stories around a campfire than delivering a scholarly lecture. My aim is to weave together bits and pieces I’ve gathered over time into a tapestry that shows how math has evolved. This way, we can appreciate the beauty and simplicity at the heart of mathematics, a subject that connects us all, from past to present.
“An A-To-Z History Of Mathematics”. 2021. thoughtco. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-mathematics-1992130.
Mathematics is the science of numbers. To be precise, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines mathematics as:
The science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, abstractions and of space configurations and their structure, measurement, transformations and generalizations.
There are several different branches of mathematical science, which include algebra, geometry and calculus.
Mathematics is not an invention. Discoveries and laws of science are not considered inventions since inventions are material things and processes. However, there is a history of mathematics, a relationship between mathematics and inventions and mathematical instruments themselves are considered inventions.
“Great Moments In The History Of Mathematics | Openmind”. 2018. openmind. https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/mathematics/great-moments-in-the-history-of-mathematics/.
Even though there is no Nobel Prize in Mathematics, the mathematical sciences are known as the most exact sciences and some of its century-old formulas are used to this date. For this reason, Ventana al Conocimiento (Knowledge Window) would like to go over some of the greatest achievements and figures in the history of mathematics, from Ancient Greece to modern mathematics.
“History Of Mathematics – Wikipedia”. 2021. en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_mathematics.
Kampouris, Nick. 2024. “Mathematics in Ancient Greece and Its Influence on Modern Science.” greekreporter.com. February 24. https://greekreporter.com/2024/02/24/ancient-greece-mathematics-influence-modern-science/.
Advances in mathematics that can be attributed to ancient Greeks are many and have profoundly shaped the scientific world as we know it today. Let’s take a look at ancient Greece, a place where the idea of zero was yet to be discovered, and the Earth’s circumference remained a mystery.
“List of Important Mathematicians & Timeline”. 2021. storyofmathematics.com. https://www.storyofmathematics.com/mathematicians.html.
“Mathematics History”. 1581. onthisday.com. https://www.onthisday.com/science/mathematics.
“THE JOURNEY OF MATH”. 2018. Medium. https://medium.com/@adamsemily01/the-journey-of-math-627981b88d41.
Human society has always used Mathematics in almost every facet of their lives. It was first developed by the early Sumerians and since then has become a part of every human being. It was first only used for measuring or calculating time, distance or quantity. But as technology and societies advanced the form of Math also evolved. Man’s curiosity in the physical world leads to more complicated and developed forms of Math.
“The Story of Mathematics”. 2020. storyofmathematics. https://www.storyofmathematics.com/.
“Timeline Of Mathematics – Mathigon”. 2021. mathigon. https://mathigon.org/timeline/.
“Women Mathematicians Alphabetical Index”. 2022. mathwomen.agnesscott.org. https://mathwomen.agnesscott.org/women/alpha.htm.
Videos
⭐ I suggest that you read the entire reference. Other references can be read in their entirety but I leave that up to you.
The featured image on this page is from the YouTube video The History of Mathematics and Its Applications page on the YouTube website.
Mathematical Mysteries 