Mathematics in the Time of the Pharaohs by Richard J. Gillings (PDF)

Description

In the past, scholars have tended to dismiss the mathematics of the ancient Egyptians as “child’s play,” compared with the achievements of the Greeks and other later civilizations. Nevertheless, in a society that achieved the marvelous accuracy of construction revealed in the Pyramids, extensive systems of irrigation canals, the erection of large granaries, levying and collecting of taxes, and other evidences of a well-organized and highly developed culture, mathematics must have played a major role.In this remarkably erudite work, the first book-length study of ancient Egyptian mathematics, Professor Gillings examines the development of Egyptian mathematics from its origins in commercial and practical computations to such accomplishments as the solution of problems in direct and inverse proportion; the solution of linear equations of the first degree; determining the sum of arithmetical and geometrical progressions, and the use of rudimentary trigonometric functions in describing the slopes of pyramids. Drawing on all the extant sources — Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll, the Reisner Papyri, the Moscow Mathematical Papyrus, and, most extensively, the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus, a training manual for scribes- the author shows that although the mathematical operations of the ancient Egyptians were limited in number, they were adaptable to a great many applications. Professor Gillings is also at pains to debunk such myths as the numerical mysticism that arose in connection with the construction of the great Pyramids, and the oft-repeated assertion that the Egyptians were conversant with the Pythagorean Theorem.Enhanced with photographs of age-old papyri and other artifacts, as well as the author’s own calligraphic renderings of hieroglyphic and hieratic words and numerals, this carefully researched and well-presented study will fascinate Egyptologists, mathematicians, engineers, archaeologists, and any student or admirer of the remarkable civilization that flourished on the shores of the Nile so many centuries ago.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Julian Corbett’s 1911 treatise builds upon the foundation laid by Clausewitz to translate the ideas of military strategy on land into general principals as they apply to the sea. Corbett discusses ways of integrating the land and sea forces mutually to support the political objective. He offers a modern insight into Clausewitz’s ideas concerning limited war and bridges the gap between a continental perspective and a global one.Corbett’s ideas remain intensely relevant to any practitioner of the military, strategic, or political arts. I would suggest that every technological development that would appear to change the basic principals of naval strategy has an answer in a countervailing measure, such that the nature of naval strategy has not fundamentally changed, but only broadened, since this was written. For example, cruise missiles, ICBMs and aircraft carriers change the details, but not the nature, of maritime support to the national strategy. I would also offer that many of Corbett’s insights are not limited to the sea services, and that all strategists would do well to incorporate his wisdom in forming a complete analysis.Finally, Corbett’s book is a very fine example of high level strategic thought. Whether you agree or disagree with his core concepts, the study is important to broaden your strategic thinking.This is a key part of any military-strategic library.

⭐This is a very detailed coloring book suitable for older kids 1st grade and beyond. Some pictures that are historically correct have topless figures. These are actual art that have been turned into a coloring book and would be of interest to people who are studying ancient Egypt. There are depictions of different gods and much to discuss historically. I thought the best part of the book was the stencil that could be used to write hieroglyphics, I used it to write students names for them. I was doing a volunteer art project in my daughters Kindergarten class room and did not use any of the coloring pages with that age group because the were too intricate. I think I can use it more next year or 2nd grade. A good book especially with the stencil.

⭐I love Dover coloring books! I bought this to use for an Ancient Egyptian study I was doing with my kids. It was a nice addition to our study. My only complaint is there are several (4-5) pages with pictures of a top less Egyptian woman or pictures where the woman’s breast show through their clothing. It would have been nice to know this before buying it. I would have purchased it regardless, but if I had been warned I could have kept my young son from flipping through it!!

⭐Nice product

⭐Since I was looking for a relatively cheap collection of all my favorite Verdi arias, I thought this would be the perfect way to go. The seller said that the book was “new” when I purchased it. Upon arrival, however, it looked very worn at the corners and along the edges. The packing slip said “new, but with normal bookshelf wear & tear.” It should NOT have been marked as new, then! I have always had excellent results when buying from Amazon, so I was a bit disappointed with this one.As far as the actual material is concerned, I liked the book. I find it difficult as a dramatic soprano to find many of the arias I sing in one anthology (especially by one composer!) The typeset is a bit small for my taste, but overall, I think it is a great addition to my vocal library!

⭐Dover’s facsimile of the 1896 Fürstner edition is excellently reproduced, with admirably clear musical notation (as one would expect from a late 19th-century Berlin specialist musical publisher) and only a couple of misprints, which in a score of this scale is remarkable. For home- or student-study this edition can be warmly recommended. German-speakers (or, like this reviewer, Anglo-German) may find the interstitial Italian libretto an irritation. But at this price, who can complain, especially as it has a sewn spine, which will bear re-covering in hardback long after the cover has become worn.

⭐I admit I am not yet too far along but can already tell it holds information that is hard to find. It seems pretty well-written as books on Egyptology or esoteric mathematical topics go, but admittedly I’m no expert in either realm. Not being an archaeologist or mathemetician, I may not quite be able to appreciate or understand this book as much as others who are one or both of those things, but I can safely say I like it a lot and undoubtedly, one could do worse.

⭐Very clearly written music. Well labled, page numbers listed so it makes parts of the opera easy to find. Fair size print. Only issue is that the book is so tall that the book doesnt fit the height of the shelves on by book shelf lol. As this product description says “Dover Scores are reprints of out-of-copyright editions from other publishers, and sometimes contain errors that have been corrected in more recent versions”. I don’t know this opera well enough yet to be able tell if there are any errors in this score, but this is a fair price for a good quality printing of the score. I do recommed it 🙂

⭐I found the book very useful for a course I am doing. I always find books easier to use than online notes but that may be more about my age and what I am used to

⭐Item as good as in description (bought a used copy)! Quick delivery on a couple of days, five stars well deserved.

⭐Good clear full score.

⭐Good collection of designs. Worth the cost.

⭐The convoluted language obscures the thoughts, which in no way are original as compared with Mahan.

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