A Short Account of The History of Mathematics

A Short Account of the History of Mathematics provides a historical summary of the development of mathematics. Authored by W. W. Rouse Ball and published by Holistence Publications, the book illustrates this progress through the lives and discoveries of key figures responsible for the science's advancement. Primarily intended as a concise and popular account of the leading facts in the history of mathematics, the book is organized into three distinct periods: mathematics under Greek influence (Chapters II-VII), the middle ages and renaissance (Chapters VIII-XIII), and modern times (Chapters XIV-XIX). The account begins with a brief summary of Egyptian and Phoenician mathematics as an introduction to the Greek era. Throughout, the text focuses on the central feature of each period, from the development of geometry to the creation and growth of modern arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry. The work serves as an introduction for those who lack the time or inclination for a systematic study of the subject.