From the Ishango Bone of central Africa and the Inca quipu of South America to the dawn of modern mathematics, The Crest of the Peacock makes it clear that human beings everywhere have been capable of advanced and innovative mathematical thinking. George Gheverghese Joseph takes us on a breathtaking multicultural tour of the roots and shoots of non-European mathematics. He shows us the deep influence the Egyptians and Babylonians had on the Greeks; the Arabs' major creative contributions; and the astounding range of successes of the great civilizations of India and China. This challenging and erudite book questions familiar assumptions and enlarges our sense of what we mean by mathematics.
The Crest of the Peacock
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
When we hear that mathematics is both the most noble endeavor of our species and that it was born in Europe, we naturally tend to be suspicious. Few writers could be as well-qualified to write about ancient math across the world as George Gheverghese Joseph, whose The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics is a bright example of clear exposition and argument. Though the topic might intimidate those averse to mathematics, history, non-Western cultures, or some combination thereof, the book is essential for any reader who seeks a clearer understanding of any one of those. Joseph doesn't make things easy for nonmathematicians or nonhistorians, but the pleasure of meeting his challenge is robust. He explains ancient African, American, and Asian methods of counting and manipulating numbers with ease, paying particular attention to the historical development of and interrelationships between cultures. When discussing systems of mathematics as complex as those taught in ancient India and China, Joseph includes sample problems and discussions to help the interested student see numbers as past learners did. The revised edition includes a lengthy section, titled "Reflections," that updates and expands much of the material. Few readers will be able to match Joseph's grasp of both history and mathematics, but all will find The Crest of the Peacock as delightful and elegant as its subjects. --Rob Lightner
Review
If only this book had been available when I was a student!. . . This book will carry you to a deeper place: an appreciation of the many non-European roots of mathematics. -- Review
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By "aboguy"
Format:Paperback
'Crest of the Peacock' would be an excellent text for a history of mathematics course. It doesn't cover modern mathematics, but for previous periods it is so much better than many others available. For those brought up on Kline, Boyer, Struik, etc, this book is a refreshing challenge to the thinking we have grown up with. The author does not rant about the misconception of maths as a 'western invention', but instead presents a very readable and well argued history of mathematics in various cultures, and the links between them. I learnt far more from this book than I have from any other history of maths text. Highly recommended, particularly if you teach mathematics - there is so much material in here to liven up your classes.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By K. Azam
Format:Paperback
A monumental work and an outstanding contribution to the history of early mathematics and a rare peep into the much neglected, albeit enormous contributions of the muslim arab, indian, persian and chinese mathematicians in shaping the field of mathematics. Few people will even come close to the extent of research that George Gheverghese Joseph in unearthing the mathematical histories of non-european origins.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have just finished reading this book. It is an amazing experience for someone whose math stopped with the high school. The sections relating to the truly forgotten people - the original inhabitants of the Pacific region, the American continents and Africa- which is mainly contained in the last chapter entitled 'Reflections' were a revelation to me. Anybody who sees math as a truly global phenomena must read this book I would be most interested in knowing more about the author.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Well researched and well written Book
One of the BEST unbiased study of roots of Mathematics. Very well written and understandable even by a non-mathematical person. The author has really taken the trouble. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nediumveetil S. Menon
5.0 out of 5 stars
The whole book is better
I had to read selections from this book for a class. I found it so helpful I bought the book. This is a wonderful introduction to the development of modern math and a good guide to... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Lydia Terry
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good and informative, if needlessly polemical
A very fine book about non western mathematics, concentrating in such civilizations as Ancient Egypt, Babylonia, China, India, the Arab world, and to a lesser extent, precolumbian... Read more
Published on February 3, 2007 by Andres C. Salama
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mathematics history
One of a number of interesting, popular mathematics texts published in recent years. The author traces many of it points of origin and its early developments. Read more
Published on July 6, 2006
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good source on Chinese mathematics
One of the few books with detail on Chinese mathmatics. I would have liked more, though, as most accounts deal almost entirely in Indian, Greek, Arab and Egyptian mathematics.
Published on July 5, 2006
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good information but with flawed sources.
There are better multicultural science and math histories out there. His actual information on the development of math in non-Western societies is very good, but in their... Read more
Published on July 2, 2006
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good information but with flawed sources.
There are better multicultural science and math histories out there. His actual information on the development of math in non-Western societies is very good, but in their... Read more
Published on July 2, 2006
4.0 out of 5 stars
Needs a math editting
I agree with the other reviews, except for the math editting. Its apparant that the book wasn't math editted in its entirety, because the math notation isn't consistent. Read more
Published on April 14, 2006 by Donald Kahn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marvellous Book
This is a book that is truly liberating. It should be read by each and everyone of us brought up on a diet of undiluted Eurocentrism. Read more
Published on June 30, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Unusual and Original Book
For somebody with a limited mathematics background, I was surprised by this book. Chapter 1 is an amazing journey into the pathways and byways of mathematics as a global phenomena. Read more
Published on November 8, 2000
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