Math and the Rise of Civilization

tv show

poster for Math and the Rise of Civilization

5 total episodes

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1 seasons

First Aired December 19, 2011

Overview

A guided tour of the history of numbers and how they’ve shaped the development of humankind is at the heart of this unique series. In five episodes that take us across time and around the world, we see how mathematics played an important role in ancient Egypt and Greece, early India, medieval Europe, and our own modern world. Computer graphics make mathematical formulae accessible and interesting, while dramatic reenactments of history pique the viewer’s interest.

tv poster

The Divinity of Numbers

Season 1 - Episode 3 - 1h 50m

Air Date

December 21, 2011

Overview

Our journey takes us to the east, the Indian subcontinent, where we find the zero. Representing both 'nothing' and the infinite possibility, this unique digit, when used as a marker, it is a cornerstone of modern mathematics. Along with negative numbers, this innovation has opened, both east and west, never imagined numbers.