Mathematics, Greek Trade and Technology during the period of the Ottoman Rule: three mutually connected sectors

Abstract

During the 18th century and the first decades of the 19th, when the enlightenment spirit was widespread among Greek intellectuals, a new beginning in the mathematical education of Greeks was taking shape. The frequent communication with the European centers, which had started already from the beginning of the 18th century as a result of commercial exchanges, contributed to the transfer of knowledge to the Greek-speaking world and to its exit from intellectual isolation. Within this general framework, it was realized, in even greater degree, the interrelation between Mathematics on one hand and commercial activities and technical thinking on the other. Thus, writing appropriate handbooks became imperative, since the extant books, «Λογαριαστικές» (Calculations), which were circulating up until then had become inadequate. To this need the scholars responded by producing a particularly satisfactory volume of handbooks. Already during the three decades preceding the Greek Revolution of 1821, 14 new commercial ...