Gheorghe Ţiţeica and the origins of affine differential geometry (Q1017717)

This work is devoted to some aspects in the scientific activity of the Romanian mathematician Gheorghe Ţiţeica, who was one of the most important geometers in the first part of the 20th century. The present paper is constructed around the origins of one of the pioneering concepts of affine differential geometry, namely ``centro-affine invariant''. The authors are interested in the historical context of the discovery of this notion, as well as in its impact in the development of the differential geometry. Many connections with the activity of renowned mathematicians are made throughout this paper.