Euclid
Euclid (/ˈjuːklɪd/; Ancient Greek: Εὐκλείδης – Eukleídēs, pronounced [eu̯.kleː.dɛːs]; fl. 300 BC) was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the “founder of geometry” or the “father of geometry”. He was active in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I (323–283 BC). His Elements is one of the most influential works in the history of mathematics, serving as the main textbook for teaching mathematics (especially geometry) from the time of its publication until the late 19th or early 20th century. In the Elements, Euclid deduced the theorems of what is now called Euclidean geometry from a small set of axioms. Euclid also wrote works on perspective, conic sections, spherical geometry, number theory, and mathematical rigour.
“Euclid – Wikipedia”. 2021. en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclid.
Additional Reading
Ali. 2024. “The Long Story of the Oldest Math Book: Euclid’s Elements.” Medium. Medium. February 21. https://ali.medium.com/the-long-story-of-the-oldest-math-book-euclids-elements-1bd31be1d2f2.
If we want to describe Euclid in one word, it would not be wrong to call him the “Father of Geometry.” His work has laid the groundwork upon which much of classical mathematics is built, and its influence spans several disciplines and centuries. But for some reason, we have no information about this great mathematician, who deeply influenced the history of human thought with his book, other than two rumors, most probably fabricated.
“EUCLID OF ALEXANDRIA – The Father of Geometry”. 2021. storyofmathematics.com. https://www.storyofmathematics.com/hellenistic_euclid.html.
The Greek mathematician Euclid lived and flourished in Alexandria in Egypt around 300 BCE, during the reign of Ptolemy I. Almost nothing is known of his life, and no likeness or first-hand description of his physical appearance has survived antiquity, and so depictions of him (with a long flowing beard and cloth cap) in works of art are necessarily the products of the artist’s imagination.
Janson, Merry. 2023. “Euclid’s Enduring Influence on Geometry.” Medium. Cantor’s Paradise. October 10. https://www.cantorsparadise.com/euclids-enduring-influence-on-geometry-fe10540ce971.
Euclid is an English name that means “renowned and glorious”, which is certainly a reflection of his personality and character. He was an acclaimed mathematician, born in Alexandria, Egypt around 365 B.C., and was known as the founding father of geometry. His insightful understanding was largely influenced by the teachings of Plato’s disciples in Athens, Greece.
His personal life remains shrouded in mystery, but his enduring legacy lies in the compilation of influential books. His most renowned contribution is his comprehensive 13-volume treatise on geometry known as “The Elements.” Though much of the written work was taken and categorized from the teachings of early mathematicians. As a matter of fact, he created a sagacious source that could easily be referenced and quoted.
Kampouris, Nick. 2024. “The Unmatched Legacy of Ancient Greek Mathematician, Euclid.” GreekReporter.Com. April 1. https://greekreporter.com/2024/04/01/ancient-greek-mathematician-euclid/.
Euclid has been a monumental figure in the field of mathematics for centuries. His name echoes through time and history, and he became one of the most recognizable mathematicians of ancient Greece. Known primarily for his seminal work, The Elements, the contributions of Euclid in this manuscript formed the foundation of modern geometry. His groundbreaking methods, as well as innovative scientific theories, continue to influence the way we understand shapes, spaces, and the very core of mathematical reasoning. Through his fundamentally influential work, Euclid has managed to become a foundational figure of mathematical education and thought across the globe.
“Understanding Euclid: A Simplified Approach To Mathematical Thinking”. 2020. Medium. https://medium.com/however-mathematics/understanding-euclid-a-simplified-approach-to-mathematical-thinking-625010bec030.
I remember that my mathematical education has started with numbers. First, my father, then later, my elementary teacher, taught me how to count as my elementary math education. However, 2400 years ago, everything was utterly different, and kids were taught geometry first.
Vučković, Aleksa. 2024. “Euclid and the Birth of Geometry.” Ancient Origins Reconstructing the Story of Humanity’s Past. Ancient Origins. March 23. https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-science/euclid-0020546.
It’s no secret that many of us are not too fond of mathematics and geometry, and that it is often too complex. But even so, it can be pretty mind-blowing to look back in history and discover the ancient thinkers who were way ahead of their time, and have come up with complex theorems, innovations, and discoveries in the field of mathematics. One such pioneer of scientific thought is Euclid, the Ancient Greek mathematician who flourished around 300 BC, and is considered the father of geometry.
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We don’t normally delve too far into history when talking about math, but sometimes it’s important to have perspective about how some of our math concepts came about and how influential they have become.
Euclid is considered by many to be the father of reason and intellect, advancing mankind from appeals to the gods to the application of the thinking faculties. The truth is that he built on the work of centuries of Greek thinkers including Thales of Miletus and Anaximander. Yet it was Euclid who encapsulated their approach to thinking in such a thorough and foolproof way that its lasting adoption was guaranteed.
Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos (c. 570 – 495 BCE) was a Greek philosopher and mathematician. He is best known for proving Pythagoras’ Theorem, but made many other mathematical and scientific discoveries.
Pythagoras tried to explain music in a mathematical way, and discovered that two tones sound “nice” together (consonant) if the ratio of their frequencies is a simple fraction.
He also founded a school in Italy where he and his students worshipped mathematics almost like a religion, while following a number of bizarre rules – but the school was eventually burned down by their adversaries.
“Pythagoras – Timeline of Mathematics – Mathigon”. 2023. Mathigon. https://mathigon.org/timeline/pythagoras.
Additional Reading
Chrysopoulos, Philip. 2024. “Greek Philosopher Pythagoras and His Famous Theorem.” greekreporter.com. February 17. https://greekreporter.com/2024/02/18/pythagoras-greek-philosopher-theorem/.
The influence of Pythagoras in mathematics and philosophy remains strong today, as do the mysteries surrounding the great Greek philosopher.
Like philosophy and religion, the science of mathematics can change the way we perceive the world and has a massive impact on our lives.
Pythagoras’ philosophy influenced both Plato and Aristotle, and through them his ideas were fundamental in Western philosophy.
Cole. “The Mathematical Cult of Pythagoras”. 2023. Medium. https://www.cantorsparadise.com/the-mathematical-cult-of-pythagoras-b8578cc0ae97.
Pythagoras founded his organization around 530 BCE in southern Italy. He and his followers, called Pythagoreans, subscribed to a very strange set of beliefs which in part allowed them to discover a variety of interesting mathematical ideas. Central to their belief system was reincarnation. Pythagoras taught that all humans were trapped in an endless cycle of life, and when a person dies they may be reincarnated as another species. Because of this philosophy, all Pythagoreans were strictly vegetarian. According to Pythagoras, the only way to break free of this cycle was through introspection and the study of the universe, particularly through numbers.
Singh, Sahana. 2023. “How Pythagoras’ Quest for Indian Knowledge Set the Trend for Greek Fathers of Everything.” Medium. Medium. June 17. https://medium.com/@sahana.singh/how-pythagoras-quest-for-indian-knowledge-set-the-trend-for-greek-fathers-of-everything-85dbf3d8050b.
Siegfried, Tom. “How Pythagoras turned math into a tool for understanding reality”. 2023. ScienceNews. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/pythagoras-math-reality-music-spheres.
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “the music of the spheres,” your first thought probably wasn’t about mathematics. But in its historical origin, the music of the spheres actually was all about math. In fact, that phrase represents a watershed in the history of math’s relationship with science.
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In this episode, we explore the life and movement of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans, and discover that the common image of him as an ancient mathematician isn’t entirely supported by the evidence.
The story of Pythagoras is one of innovation, change, determination and sheer genius. As an accurate picture of his life emerges, it is clear that there was more to this great man than one single, simple truth — here was a great mathematician, philosopher and political leader. This Documentary describes Pythagoras. It was produced by Cromwell Productions in 1996.
Without trigonometry nothing is possible. There will be no Architecture, no ocean exploration, no astronomy, no space-travel, no science, not your house, not your car, not your computer, infact no modern technology that you can think of. And Pythagorean theorem is the foundation of trigonometry. So did Pythagoras first discover it? No! Pythagoras indeed brought this theorem to the Greeks. Key historian of western philosophy Bertrand Russell describes it: “The combination of mathematics and theology, which began with Pythagoras, characterized religious philosophy in Greece. Orphism before Pythagoras was analogous to Asiatic mystery religions.” Otherwise, think about it, how could they built Pyramids without trigonometry? And what about the ancient giant ponds in Indus Valley civilization? Pythagoras was a native of Samos, who disliked his own government and spent much of his time roving in the lands on the other side of the ocean, which included Egypt, Babylon and eastern lands ahead. By the standards of his time, they were far richer in Mathematics, Chemistry and Philosophy. As he returned to the Greeks carrying all that knowledge, they believed him to be ‘the son of God’. Pythagoras enjoyed this divine position, and attempted to found a new religion, which included weird mandates, such as prohibition of ‘eating hearts of animals’, ‘picking up fallen stuffs’ and ‘looking in mirrors from beside the lights’. And from there his school propagated science and mathematics ahead, which led to the famous Greek rise of wisdom that laid the foundation to all the further western developments. -For more interesting facts and knowledge, subscribe to Roving eyes and we bring you the gems of precious knowledge more and more.
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