Book Project
The section I read from Euclid’s Window was the Story of Euclid. The first chapter, “The First Revolution”, begins by discussing the accomplishments of the civilizations before Greece. Mlodinow discusses the counting tools prehistoric humans used (about 8000 years ago) such as bones slashed with marks. He then begins to discuss the accomplishments of the Egyptians. He explains how the Egyptians began to tame the Nile and use it for their own benefit in harvest time. They began to become urbanized and started a writing system. Mlodinow then enters the mathematical aspect of the Egyptians. He discusses how the architect had to plan a pyramid without the use of modern technology; simply the use of a rope and some wood. The architect would survey the plot by using slaves to pull a series of ropes tied together into a triangle shape, thus forming angles in which the architect can measure from. He then goes into detail of this system and how it applies today. Mlodinow then discusses the Babylonians and how they solved equations by using words instead of variables. Finally, at the end of the chapter, he discusses how the Greeks took on problems that previous civilizations did not bother with, simply because those civilizations did not really care or need to bother with those problems.
The next chapter, “Among the Seven Sages”, is mainly about the mathematician Thales. He was described as having an “insatiable thirst” for knowledge. He traveled abroad and studied all sorts of sciences and mathematics. He proved many geometric theorems, and forged the name of the study of geometry. He also encounters a young Pythagoras and tells him to study abroad.
The 4th chapter, “The Secret Society”, is mainly about Pythagoras’ scientific life. He noted many patterns, such as the square and triangle numbers. He also used geometric proof (as opposed to the easier algebraic proof) to prove his Pythagorean theorem. Mlodinow goes into detail on how he proves it. His cult following is also described after he became famous in Greece and abroad. However, he was daunted by irrational numbers and forbade his followers to mention the “paradox” of the irrational numbers. A follower who spilled the secret was killed. Over time his cult degenerated due to war and he fled.
The 5th chapter is about Euclid himself. Mlodinow discusses how Euclid stressed over proving every logical step in his theorems or he would not accept them. He also formed the basis of geometry as it is known today, defining many staple concepts in geometry (line, point, arc, angle, etc) and proving nearly 500 theorems.
The 6th chapter is simply a discussion of the fall of European civilization for a thousand years. It discusses how Rome dismantled Europe, and then fell itself.
Personally, I think this was a brilliant segment that described the advancement of mathematics and logic throughout the course of many millennia. It showed, step by step, how each civilization contributed to the overall whole, and how Greece simply regurgitated that previous knowledge, refined it, and added its own contributions as well.
