Compact, well-written survey ranges from the ancient Near East to 20th-century computer theory, covering Archimedes, Pascal, Gauss, Hilbert, and many others. "A work which is unquestionably one of the best." — Nature.

This compact, well-written history covers major mathematical ideas and techniques from the ancient Near East to 20th-century computer theory, surveying the works of Archimedes, Pascal, Gauss, Hilbert, and many others. "The author's ability as a first-class historian as well as an able mathematician has enabled him to produce a work which is unquestionably one of the best." — Nature.