The overlooked mathematicians of history
A global history of mathematics, from ancient China to the mathematical powerhouse of the Middle East
Conventional histories of mathematics are dominated by well-known names like Pythagoras, Leibniz or Newton. But to concentrate solely on figures from Europe gives us only a patchwork understanding of the rich and varied history of mathematical achievement around the world.
Tim Harford speaks to Dr Kate Kitagawa, co-author of The Secret Lives of Numbers, to explore the long history of mathematical advances and innovation across civilisations and centuries, from the female mathematician at court in imperial China to the pioneers in the mathematical powerhouses of the Middle East in the first millennium AD.
Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Jon Bithrey
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound engineer: James Beard
(Photo: Statue of Al Khwarizmi, a ninth century mathematician. Credit: Mel Longhurst/Getty Images)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 28 Oct 2023 10:50GMT大象传媒 World Service East and Southern Africa & Europe and the Middle East only
- Sun 29 Oct 2023 09:50GMT大象传媒 World Service West and Central Africa
- Sun 29 Oct 2023 11:50GMT大象传媒 World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
- Sun 29 Oct 2023 22:50GMT大象传媒 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Mon 30 Oct 2023 00:50GMT大象传媒 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.