The Story of Maths

The Story of Maths is an enlightening and insightful four-part television series that aired on BBC Four in 2008. Narrated and presented by British Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, Marcus du Sautoy, the show aims to explore the history, development, and cultures of mathematics across the eras and across the continents. It makes the complex world of numbers accessible to everyone, democratizing a subject that is often seen as obscure and intimidating.

The primary focus of the series is on the philosophy of mathematics, its profound importance throughout history, the origins and evolution of various mathematical concepts, and the enormous contributions made by civilizations and individuals. The episodes blend scientific inquiry with historical narrative, weaving a genuinely fascinating chronicle of mathematics and its role in the development of human civilization.

The inaugural episode deals with the 'The Language of the Universe.’ It takes you back to ancient times, tracing the origins of mathematics in the intricate designs of the Egyptians' pyramids and the Babylonians' clay tablets. The extraordinary developments in Greece, particularly those made by Pythagoras, who married mathematics, music, and mysticism, and Euclid, who gave us the rules of geometry, also find mention in this episode. Marcus du Sautoy’s exciting and enthusiastic narrative takes you on a journey, exploring how these ancient civilizations understood and used mathematics to navigate and measure their world, how they developed a system of numbers, and gave the primitive concept of zero.

Episode two, titled 'The Genius of the East,' delves into the golden age of mathematics, when Indian, Arabian, and Persian scholars took the baton from the Greeks and developed modern numerals, algebra, and trigonometry. This episode examines the profound influence of mathematical innovators from these regions, such as the Persian polymath Al-Khwarizmi, who is often considered the 'father of algebra'.

In the third episode, 'The Frontiers of Space', the show navigates towards the mathematics of the Renaissance period. Viewers are introduced to the works of mathematical greats like Johannes Kepler, René Descartes, and Pierre de Fermat. It delves into how mathematics was used to understand the heavens, the innovation of coordinates and the confluence of geometry and algebra, and Fermat's Last Theorem, which puzzled mathematicians for centuries.

The series concludes with 'To Infinity and Beyond.' This episode investigates the development of calculus by Newton and Leibniz, the disputes that it sparked, and the modern fields of mathematics it paved the way for, like theories of uncertainty, topology, and the concept of infinity. The episode beautifully portrays how mathematics transcended from dealing with actual and tangible quantities to a world of ideas and abstractions.

'The Story of Maths' takes an innovative approach to the usually dry field of maths instruction, making it vastly entertaining and thoroughly educational. Its empirical approach, mixing on-location shooting, examination of real-world applications, and simplified demonstrations of mathematical concepts make it highly engaging. Equally fascinating is the emphasis on the cultural and sociological aspects of mathematics, illustrating how different societies have interacted with and developed mathematical ideas and how those concepts have in-turn shaped societies.

Professor Marcus du Sautoy’s passion for the subject is infectious, his attitude towards mathematics very down-to-earth, and his narrative style ensures a compelling viewing experience even for non-technical audiences. His discourse on the historical events, biographical sketches, and the debates and challenges in the world of mathematics make the abstract nature of the subject intuitive and real. At the same time, the series does not shy away from expressing the excitement of mathematical investigation and exposing the elegance of mathematical truths.

To summarize, 'The Story of Maths' is not just a minor history lesson or a simplistic overview of complicated theories; it is a broad-sweeping, chronologically ordered story that captivates and fascinates, leaving viewers with a greater appreciation for a subject that touches every facet of our daily lives. Regardless of whether you are a mathematics enthusiast or someone intrigued by the history of human knowledge and thought, this compelling series offers an enthralling insight into the world of numbers, ideas, and the human genius.