What is GEOMETRY?

We will start our blog with a brief post about what is geometry and some of its aspects during history. We can’t talk about something if we don’t know it before, don’t you think?

The word “Geometry” comes from the Ancient Greek and it means “measure of the Earth”. According to the dictionary of the Spanish Real Academy (RAE), Geometry is “the study of the properties and magnitudes of the figures in the plan or in the space”. It can exist different variables according to the field of study.

Currently, Geometry has a lot of practical applications in other sciences, such as physics, mechanics, architecture, astronomy, etc. Geometry is also the theoretical basis of the technical drawing and some tools as the compass. Its origins come from the need to solve concrete problems related to measures.

However, when did Geometry appear? It is one of the most ancient sciences. Initially, it was formed by practical knowledge in relation to lengths, areas and volumes. The Babylonian civilization was one of the first cultures in the study of Geometry. Thanks to the invention of the wheel, the study of the circumference and the discovery of the “PI number” were possible. They also developed the sexagesimal system because they realised that the year had 365 days. Furthermore, they invented an equation to calculate the area of the rectangle trapezium.

The Egyptian and Babylonian architects built different buildings following geometric principles, such as temples, graves and pyramids. These civilizations used numbers without having a clear concept of them neither mathematical theories, lines, angles, triangles and other figures which were used to orientation.

In the VI century B.C., Tales de Mileto established the first mathematics discipline, which was the Greek Geometry.

In the 350 B.C., Euclid wrote his book, “The Elements”, which is the first written treatise of Geometry. He is considered the “father” of Geometry and he identified its three dimensions. His book was the second book more translated after the Bible. For Euclid and the following generations, the Geometry was the study of the regular shapes that can be observed in our world. For this reason, as we have mentioned and the name of the blog said, Geometry is present in all parts of our world. Here, I have added a video to know more about Euclid. It can be shown to our students in the classroom.

In the ancient world, we should also name Arquímedes and Apolonio, which were important figures in Geometry in the calculation of volumes and different curves, especially the conical ones. 

During the Middle-Ages, mathematical science is more centred in the astronomy and it is very relevant in the Arabian and Indian civilizations. However, in the Renaissance, Geometry was promoted again thanks to the art needs with the aim of getting new instruments to represent reality.

This is just a very brief overview of the history of Geometry in order to have some basic knowledge on the topic. Now, I have added some other videos to teach it to our children from different levels.

About the history of Geometry (for younger children)

About the history of Geometry (for the oldest ones)

References:

Boyer, C. B. (1991). A History of Mathematics (Second edition, revised by Uta C. Merzbach edición). Nueva York: Wiley.