Crest of the Peacock -- an introduction to non-Eurocentric math in history.

 After reading the introduction of The Crest of the Peacock I have had three revelations about mathematics and mathematics history: 

1-Mathematics flourished globally, long before Europe’s “modern” period

Different cultures like India, the Arab world and Africa show a very deep mathematical thinking culture and uniform mathematical ideas which shaped modern mathematics long before Europe's modern period. This varies from the normal Eurocentric mathematics timeline that is taught in schools.

2-Mathematics developed from everyday life

Mathematics has developed from everyday life in different cultures and different societies. For example Indians developed finite series for trigonometric functions, Arabs advanced in computation and algebra and Mesopotamians solved quadratic type problems.

3-Non European Mathematical Systems

Non European cultures had formed thorough and precise systems similar to Europe. Like the Indian decimal system with zero, Kerala school’s infinite series for π and Arab synthesis of measurement techniques with Indian computations.

Why do surprises matter 

These points shift from who discovered first? to How did ideas develop?

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