To any Islamic fundamentalists who happen to be reading CUK…

[sasguru]

Greek did alright though.

Hmmm, yes the Greeks did rather well with few tools, but had a few drawbacks.
Mathematically, the were uneasy equally of the infinity and infintesimals and failed to develop calculus, the biggest and arguably most useful practical mathematical advance (although Archimedes came close).
Also they don't seem to have been very good at harnessing their many geniuses' insights into practical technology to beat their enemies.

[shaunbhoy]

Hmmm, yes the Greeks did rather well with few tools, but had a few drawbacks.
Mathematically, the were uneasy equally of the infinity and infintesimals and failed to develop calculus, the biggest and arguably most useful practical mathematical advance (although Archimedes came close).
Also they don't seem to have been very good at harnessing their many geniuses' insights into practical technology to beat their enemies.

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[sasguru]

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

We already know you're a bit of a dunce, there really is no need to demonstrate it to all and sundry.

[Gibbon]

Hmmm, yes the Greeks did rather well with few tools, but had a few drawbacks.
Mathematically, the were uneasy equally of the infinity and infintesimals and failed to develop calculus, the biggest and arguably most useful practical mathematical advance (although Archimedes came close).
Also they don't seem to have been very good at harnessing their many geniuses' insights into practical technology to beat their enemies.

Archimedes did quite well at the siege of Syracuse. I think the Greeks gave us quite enough without calculus etc. Did a pretty good job of conquering Afghanistan as well with a small army.

[sasguru]

Archimedes did quite well at the siege of Syracuse. I think the Greeks gave us quite enough without calculus etc. Did a pretty good job of conquering Afghanistan as well with a small army.

Not knocking the Greek contribution which was indeed immense.
But AFAIK nothing matches the great flowering in sciences, maths, technology, arts and literature that occured in Europe from C16th to C20th.
I suspect however that history will decide that this was the peak of European (Western) civilisation and that we have started our decline now.

[Gibbon]

Not knocking the Greek contribution which was indeed immense.
But AFAIK nothing matches the great flowering in sciences, maths, technology, arts and literature that occured in Europe from C16th to C20th.
I suspect however that history will decide that this was the peak of European (Western) civilisation and that we have started our decline now.

What perchance was this based on ?

Fecking Greek "sciences, maths, technology, arts and literature" that flowed westwards from extant texts still available in Constantinople as the Ottomans were advancing.

[gingerjedi]

[doodab]

Not entirely. There was quite a contribution from the Islamic world and elsewhere that flowed into Europe as well. But it was just a starting point.

There has been enormous progress in maths and science during the last 500 years, and it was mostly in Europe at first, but we shouldn't forget that it's a global enterprise now. I also think the invention of the computer lends it new impetus, it's far from over.

[SupremeSpod]

Not entirely. There was quite a contribution from the Islamic world and elsewhere that flowed into Europe as well. But it was just a starting point.

There has been enormous progress in maths and science during the last 500 years, and it was mostly in Europe at first, but we shouldn't forget that it's a global enterprise now. I also think the invention of the computer lends it new impetus, it's far from over.

Yeah, without Manchestoh you lot would be f**ked - and not in a good way!

[sasguru]

What perchance was this based on ?

Fecking Greek "sciences, maths, technology, arts and literature" that flowed westwards from extant texts still available in Constantinople as the Ottomans were advancing.

The Greeks contributed certainly but without algebra, the idea of the algorithm, the Hindu-Arabic numeric system etc would it have been as profound? You can't underestimate how important the place-system and zero are. It allows us to represent any number with just 9 symbols.
Do you think we could have got to the moon if maths was done with Greek/Roman numerals?