Euclidean axiomatic geometry
Geometría axiomática (Elementos de Euclides)
- Date
- c. 300 BCE · confidence medium
- Place
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Credited to
- Euclid of Alexandria
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
What it is
A systematisation of all known geometry and number theory in 13 books, built from definitions, postulates and common notions. The most influential scientific textbook in history for 2,000 years.
What it led to
- A model of a deductive system for science, theology and law
- The basis of Hellenistic optics, mathematical astronomy and engineering
- Formal teaching of mathematics from antiquity to the 20th century
- Debate over the fifth postulate that led to non-Euclidean geometries
Built on
Made possible
- Euclid's Optics: geometry of the visual conec. 300 BCE
- Law of reflectionc. 300 BCE
- Armillary spherec. 255 BCE
- Compound pulley (block and tackle)c. 250 BCE
- Archimedes principle and law of the leverc. 250 BCE
- Archimedes' screwc. 250 BCE
- Archimedes' principlec. 250 BCE
- Measurement of Earth's circumference (Eratosthenes)c. 240 BCE
- Measurement of Earth circumferencec. 240 BCE
- Conic sectionsc. 200 BCE
- Hipparchus trigonometry and chord tablec. 150 BCE
- Early planispheric astrolabec. 150 CE
- Map projection with coordinates (Ptolemy's Geography)c. 150 CE
- Almagest and Ptolemy theoremc. 150 CE
- Early algebra (Diophantus' Arithmetica)c. 250 CE
- Controlled experimental method (Alhazen)c. 1021
- Experimental optics and refraction (Alhazen)c. 1021
- Portolan chartc. 1290
- Bastion fort (trace italienne)c. 1480-1530
- Hilbert Foundations of Geometry1899
- Archimedes's mechanics
- Apollonius's Conics
- Ptolemy's Almagest
- geometrical optics