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Course schedule: Archimedes, Ancient Mathematician

Nov. 30, 2009

September 1Advising and registration datesSeptember 3Introduction to course
September 8Historical background to ancient math and our sources: from the Classical to the Hellenistic worldSeptember 10Introduction to Greek math: Euclid and deductive proof
September 15The domain of Greek math: what did Archimedes study?September 17Translating ancient Greek math: the language of diagrams
September 22CLASS CANCELLED: Professor illSeptember 24Introduction to the Archimedes Palimpsest (in-class video)
September 29Interpreting the evidence: the transmission of ancient textsOctober 1The social context of Hellenistic math: who did Archimedes write for?Historical source assignment due Oct. 2
October 6Introduction to Archimedes' mechanical inventionsOctober 8Approximation and the method of exhaustion: Archimedes' treatise On the Measurement of the Circle
October 13Columbus Day breakOctober 15Archimedes' greatest accomplishment? The treatise on the Sphere and CylinderColumbus day break (Oct. 13)
October 20Archimedes astronomerOctober 22Hour examHour exam Oct. 22
October 27The image of Archimedes: biography, history, traditionsOctober 29Sources and historical chronology
November 3Geometry, diagrams and the math of non-geometric entities: Archimedes' treatise On Floating BodiesNovember 5Archimedes and the defense of Syracuse
November 10Discovery versus proof: Archimedes' treatise on the Method of Treating Mechanical ProblemsNovember 12The Method of Archimedes : part 2
November 17Playful methods with serious intent? Combinatorics in the game of the StomachionNovember 19Numeric notation in the Sand Reckoner
November 24Story Problems in ancient Greek math, and Archimedes' Cattle ProblemNovember 26Thanksgiving breakThanksgiving break
December 1Archimedes in the Middle AgesDecember 3Reports, 1: Measurement of Circle, Sphere and Cylinder, Floating BodiesOral reports: analysis of diagrams (Dec. 3, 8)
December 8Reports, 2: Stomachion and Method; and course reviewDecember 10Study periodStudy period (Dec. 10)