EGPT 30630 Egyptian Mathematical Texts
Although Egyptians demonstrated use of sophisticated mathematics, including geometry, already in the Old Kingdom, the oldest preserved mathematical texts date from the Middle Kingdom. In this course we will read sections of several of these MK hieratic texts, including problems involving a wide range of math skills and applications; we will then read portions of the so-called Demotic mathematical papyri to see how Egyptian math evolved into the Ptolemaic period. No special background is required although comfort with numbers will be an asset