Coursera Plus Annual is 40% Off — Ends July 6.

Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Open University

Babylonian mathematics

The Open University via OpenLearn

Go to class Write review
Boot.dev Ad

The Fastest Way to Become a Backend Developer Online

Learn More → DataCamp Ad

Power BI Fundamentals - Create visualizations and dashboards from scratch

Learn More →

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off
One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera.
Unlock All Certificates
This free course looks at Babylonian mathematics. You will learn how a series of discoveries has enabled historians to decipher stone tablets and study the various techniques the Babylonians used for problem-solving and teaching. The Babylonian problem-solving skills have been described as remarkable and scribes of the time received a training far in advance of anything available in medieval Christian Europe 3000 years later.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Babylonian mathematics
  • 1 Babylonian mathematics
  • 1.2 A Babylonian mathematical problem
  • 1.3 The historical study of cuneiform
  • 1.4 A remarkable numeration system
  • 1.5 Plimpton 322
  • 1.5.1 Uncertain origins
  • 1.5.2 What is the significance of the numbers?
  • 1.5.3 Errors in Plimpton 322
  • 1.6 The social context of Babylonian mathematical activity
  • 1.7 Babylonian mathematical style
  • Conclusion
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements

Tags

Reviews

4.7 rating at OpenLearn based on 16 ratings

Start your review of Babylonian mathematics

Go to class

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Sign up for free
Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.