Overview
The sub-collection of mathematical cuneiform texts in the Schøyen Collection makes a substantial addition to the known corpus of such texts. It contains 121 texts, not counting 151 multiplication tables and 53 small weight stones. According to the catalog at the end of the Index of Subjects below, where those 121 mathematical texts are ordered by content, nearly all known kinds, and some new kinds, of mathematical cun- form texts are represented in the collection. Therefore it has been possible to organize the present work as a broad general account of Mesopotamian mathematics, illustrated mainly by texts from the Schøyen Collection, but occasionally also by previously published texts. The general disposition of the book is borrowed from my own concise but comprehensive survey of Mesopotamian mathematics in the article on “Mathematics” in Reallexikon der Assyriologie, vol. 7 (1990). My ambition has been to make the account easily accessible to all kinds of readers, yet still as detailed and exhaustive as possible. For that purpose, there is, for instance, an introductory Chapter 0 on “how to get a b- ter understanding of mathematical cuneiform texts”. The chapter begins with a discussion of the danger of unintentional anachronisms in translations of pre-Greek mathematical texts, and continues with a presentation of the kind of “conform” transliterations, translations, and interpretations, true to the original, that will be used throughout the book in discussions of individual texts.
Full Product Details
Author: Jöran Friberg
Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Imprint: Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Edition: 2007 ed.
Dimensions:
Width: 21.60cm
, Height: 3.80cm
, Length: 27.90cm
Weight: 1.602kg
ISBN: 9780387345437
ISBN 10: 0387345434
Pages: 536
Publication Date: 31 July 2007
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
From the reviews: ""This fascinating book presents 121 unpublished mathematical clay tablets from the Norwegian Schoyen Collection ... . The book is divided into 12 chapters, 10 appendices, a vocabulary for MS texts, an index of subjects ... and a large list of references. ... Many pictures, drawings and coloured photos of the most interesting tablets are also included. ... opens up Babylonian mathematics to a new generation of mathematicians, historians of science and mathematics, teachers and students. It can therefore be recommended to a wide audience."" (European Mathematical Society Newsletter, June, 2008) ""We welcome the book under review, a study of the Martin Schoyen collection ... . this collection include exemplars of virtually every known type of mathematical tablet, as well as some types of tablets that have never been published. ... Friberg,s book will be invaluable for anyone studying Mesopotamian mathematics, as it provides so many more examples of mathematical ideas that were used by the scribes. ... Any good library in the history of mathematics should possess copies ... ."" (Victor J. Katz, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2008 h)
From the reviews: This fascinating book presents 121 unpublished mathematical clay tablets from the Norwegian Schoyen Collection ! . The book is divided into 12 chapters, 10 appendices, a vocabulary for MS texts, an index of subjects ! and a large list of references. ! Many pictures, drawings and coloured photos of the most interesting tablets are also included. ! opens up Babylonian mathematics to a new generation of mathematicians, historians of science and mathematics, teachers and students. It can therefore be recommended to a wide audience. (European Mathematical Society Newsletter, June, 2008) We welcome the book under review, a study of the Martin Schoyen collection ! . this collection include exemplars of virtually every known type of mathematical tablet, as well as some types of tablets that have never been published. ! Friberg's book will be invaluable for anyone studying Mesopotamian mathematics, as it provides so many more examples of mathematical ideas that were used by the scribes. ! Any good library in the history of mathematics should possess copies ! . (Victor J. Katz, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2008 h)
From the reviews: <p> This fascinating book presents 121 unpublished mathematical clay tablets from the Norwegian SchA, yen Collection a ] . The book is divided into 12 chapters, 10 appendices, a vocabulary for MS texts, an index of subjects a ] and a large list of references. a ] Many pictures, drawings and coloured photos of the most interesting tablets are also included. a ] opens up Babylonian mathematics to a new generation of mathematicians, historians of science and mathematics, teachers and students. It can therefore be recommended to a wide audience. (European Mathematical Society Newsletter, June, 2008) <p> We welcome the book under review, a study of the Martin SchA, yen collection a ] . this collection include exemplars of virtually every known type of mathematical tablet, as well as some types of tablets that have never been published. a ] Friberga (TM)s book will be invaluable for anyone studying Mesopotamian mathematics, as it provides so many more examples of mathematical ideas that were used by the scribes. a ] Any good library in the history of mathematics should possess copies a ] . (Victor J. Katz, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2008 h)
