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Explore two illuminating lectures on the history of mathematics presented by ICHM Montucla Prize winners. Delve into Mary Somerville's mathematical education in 18th-century Scotland, uncovering how she overcame barriers to access advanced mathematical texts and become a renowned expert in analytical mathematics. Investigate the circulation of mathematical knowledge through letter correspondence and periodical puzzles. Then, examine the evolution of the mathematical concept of genus, tracing its development from Bernhard Riemann's work to Alfred Clebsch's reinterpretation within projective geometry. Discover how the German term "Geschlecht" came to be associated with this concept and how mathematicians differentiated between Clebsch's and Riemann's notions until Felix Klein's unification around 1880. Gain insights into the historical development of fundamental mathematical ideas and the challenges faced by women in mathematics during the 18th and 19th centuries.
