Euclid's Elements
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the content, history and impact of Euclid's Elements, the mathematical text book from the ancient world, originating in Alexandria in about 300BC.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Euclid's Elements, a mathematical text book attributed to Euclid and in use from its appearance in Alexandria, Egypt around 300 BC until modern times, dealing with geometry and number theory. It has been described as the most influential text book ever written. Einstein had a copy as a child, which he treasured, later saying "If Euclid failed to kindle your youthful enthusiasm, then you were not born to be a scientific thinker."
With
Marcus du Sautoy
Professor of Mathematics and Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford
Serafina Cuomo
Reader in Roman History at Birkbeck University of London
And
June Barrow-Green
Professor of the History of Mathematics at the Open University
Producer: Simon Tillotson.
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LINKS AND FURTHER READING
Marcus du Sautoy at the University of Oxford
Serafina Cuomo at Birkbeck, University of London
June Barrow-Green at the Open University
The 888 AD manuscript of the Elements - Clay Mathematics Institute
Oliver Byrne’s colour edition of the Elements (1847)
Interactive edition of the Elements
READING LIST:
Karine Chemla (ed.) The History of Mathematical Proof in Ancient Traditions (Cambridge University Press, 2012)
Euclid (eds. Thomas L. Heath and Dana Densmore), Elements (first published 1908; Green Lion Press, 2002)
J. L. Heilbron, Geometry Civilized: History, Culture, and Technique (Oxford University Press, 2000)
Ian Mueller, Philosophy of Mathematics and Deductive Structure in Euclid's Elements (MIT Press, 1981)
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Melvyn Bragg |
Interviewed Guest | Marcus du Sautoy |
Interviewed Guest | June Barrow-Green |
Producer | Simon Tillotson |
Broadcasts
- Thu 28 Apr 2016 09:00BBC Radio 4
- Thu 28 Apr 2016 21:30BBC Radio 4
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