Euklid

Euclid, the geometer from Alexandria, and his predominantly geometric literary work form the centerpiece of this book on the history of mathematics. It remains uncertain whether there was truly a mathematician named Euclid, when he lived, and whether the textbooks on mathematics and mathematical physics attributed to him were actually written solely by him. Despite these limitations, the author extensively elaborates on the currently available knowledge about pre-Euclidean Greek mathematics, the traditions of Euclidean geometry, and the enduring impact of Euclidean works over the centuries. It becomes clear at many points how insufficient our understanding of the history of reception is and how fragmented the ancient source material still remains even after two thousand years.