¶ … legacies of ancient Greece and ancient Rome in the area of development and use of mathematics. Discuss possible reasons why there were a lot of mathematical developments in ancient Greece but mostly applications in ancient Rome.

The great Roman statesman Cicero stated: "Greek mathematics lead the field in pure geometry, while we limit ourselves to reckoning and measuring" (Lecture 7, 2009). By this statement, Cicero meant that the Romans excelled in construction, architecture, and hands-on disciplines, often using Greek concepts and methods, but they did not spend much time engaged in philosophizing about mathematics on their own. The resources of Rome were diverted to empire-building, and Romans who were active in politics and the military were valued in society, not individuals who shone in the arts and pure philosophy. Much of Roman abstract thought, decorative art, and religion was imitative rather than innovative. As a large empire rather than a loose conglomeration of city-states, Rome also had the luxury of picking and choosing which aspects of various civilizations it might like to incorporate into its own.

In contrast to the Romans, the Greeks attached a certain amount of stigma to manual labor: Xenophon commented that: "What are called the mechanical arts carry a social stigma, and are rightly dishonored in our cities" (Lecture 7, 2009).When Plato was constructing his ideal civilization in the Republic, those citizens fittest to rule were of the philosophers' class, while the lowest orders of society were deemed to be the craftsmen and tradesmen. Although Greek was in actuality a democracy, these common men, in Plato's estimation, were considered unworthy to participate in government. This reflects a type of snobbery typical of ancient Greece. Even scientific disciplines that emphasized thought rather than experimentation and application were esteemed more than pursuits such as architecture. This is also why astronomy, more than the hands-on sciences, was considered to be the highest art.

Roman architecture, including the aqueducts, the domed Pantheon, and its impressive network of roads were important 'firsts' in the history of the world. They would not have been possible without the use of Greek principles, but many of the principles had never been put into action.

Reference

Lecture 7: Hellenistic science and Roman Science. November 5, 2009.

www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/gregory/1001/handouts/H07_H&R.DOC