And yet it is heard. Musical, multilingual and multicultural history of the mathematical sciences. Volume 1 (Q2393377)

The aim of the book is to present a musical, multilingual and multicultural history of mathematics and mathematical sciences since the ancient times up to the twentieth century. Volume I -- just under review -- is dedicated to the ancient times (Volume II to the scientific revolution). It is a serious and comprehensive attempt to show the role music played in the development of mathematics. The role of languages as well as the role of the whole cultural environment are also emphasized. It is shown how the sciences are rooted in the various cultures. What is important: the author reserves an equal consideration to non-European sciences as to those that flourished in Europe. Volume I consists of seven chapters. Chapter 1 has an introductory character. Chapter 2 is about the Pythagorean schools, Euclid, Plato, Aristoxenus and Ptolemy. In Chapter 3, the Chinese mathematical theories of music are considered. Chapter 4 is devoted to the achievements of Indian scientists. The Arabs appear in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6 we return to Europe -- here the contributions of persons such as Boethius, Leonardo da Pisa, Pierro della Francesca, Luca Pacioli, Leonardo da Vinci or Girolamo Cardano are discussed. The volume contains also four appendices. Appendix A contains a translation of the musical pages contained in the famous Chinese manual of mathematics. Appendix B is a translation of a short text about music discussed in Chapter 5. Appendix C contains a translation of the manuscript entitled \textit{Musica} presented in Chapter 6. In the last Appendix D, the Chinese characters appearing in the text are given.