Math 629: History of Mathematics
Frank Sottile

• Your first homework will be to send me a short autobiography: Who you are, what is your mathematical and professional background, what do you do, what do you hope to get from this course, what library resources do you have available, have you ever taken a distance course before, etc. Also, you may (optionally) include any other information that you feel is worth mentioning or telling me. The more information the better for me to get to understand you and what I can do to help you be successful in your goals (as they pertain to this class).
  This will be due by the first couple of days of class, Wednesday, 15 January 2020. Please send this by a private post to me on Piazza. If that does not work, then a simple email to my preferred email address should do.
  You should also send me your preferred email address.
  I likely will ask that you write a shorter version of this for public consumption by the class, posting it in Piazza.
• Getting on Piazza is also absolutely necessary. This is an on-line platform for course discussions. I have found it effective for this class, too.
• You need to get a copy of our book, by Stillwell.
  It is possible to download a free version of the text through the TAMU library.
  
• Reading: (for week one)
  • I would like you to read Allen's The Origins of Mathematics, which is about the origins of counting. You should appreciate how difficult it is to delve into this question. This source become less complete nearer to its end, more like talking points in a lecture.
  • Please read the discussion of Babylonian Mathematics at the St. Andrew's History of Mathematics page.
  • There will be more, see the information page for Week 1