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This 52-minute lecture from the University of Oxford explores the 4000-year evolution of classical algebra, tracing equation-solving techniques from ancient Babylon to 1800 AD. Discover how mathematical problem-solving began with quadratic equations in Mesopotamia around 1800 BC and evolved over millennia as mathematicians gradually expanded their toolkit to tackle increasingly complex equations. Follow the fascinating transformation of algebra from a focus on solving individual problems to developing comprehensive theories of equations. This historical journey sets the stage for understanding how the field eventually evolved into the more abstract, structural algebra that emerged in the early twentieth century. Part of a third-year course on the History of Mathematics.
