Mathematics, Culture, and the Arts: From Colonial Findings Back to the Ishango Rods

Huylebrouck, Dirk

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.

Details

Published by: Springer

Publication Date: 2019-04-08

Format: Hardcover

ISBN-13: 9783030040369

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-04037-6

Dimensions: 235cm x155cm

Pages: 229