Posted on 08/30/2006 10:41:19 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The earliest treatise on algebra is the Egyptian Rhind Papyrus (c.1700 BC). But in c.3000 BC Egyptians called it "aha Calculus" because "Aha," "Ahe," or "Ahau" was the name of the second pharaoh of the first dynasty. Meaning mass, quantity, or heap (a pile of many things), it was used as an abstract term for the unknown in an equation. Originally, the word "algebra"-("al" "from Egypt"--"al-Kemit")--meant the reuniting of broken parts and was later defined by the Arabs as "restoration", including "bone setting". Note that Yin and Yang are also about the union of separate parts... Africans found a place for arithmetic and algebra during their on-going activities on such vast construction projects-- as in building temples, pyramids, irrigation works, and obelisks.
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So does this help anyone's self-esteem to know this fact?
Fo snizzle.
I love it when my brain does that.
Well, I suppose Newton might have said "aha!" when the apple fell, but I sure didn't know he was Egyptian and lived nearly 5,000 years.
I was taught that Sir Issac Newton developed Calculus.
Ahem, the ALIENS helped the Egyptians make those pyramids. < /sarc >
I certainly couldn't follow it all, especially the linguistics parts, an area in which I have no knowledge. But those parts I could follow were 80-90% wrong in his assertions. His logical reasoning was faulty, too.
I don't get their point. Of course they're wrong, but if they were correct what would it say about Africa? Arithmetic and Algebra was supposedly invented in Africa and now look at it. The most desolate place on earth. This is also where the first human supposedly came from. Nonsense.
I think it's interesting that the ancient Egyptians spoke Latin. Naming "aha calculus" after a pharoah is cool, but "calculus"?
calculus (1666), from L. calculus "reckoning, account," originally "pebble used in counting," dim. of calx (gen. calcis) "limestone." Modern mathematical sense is a shortening of differential calculus.
Those Egyptians were waaaaaay ahead of their time.
The ER doc once exclaimed, "Aha, calculus," when he found the cause of my horrid flank pain.
Strange, because he didn't look at all Egyptian.
a review of Volume II:
The World Turned Upside Down
EMILY VERMEULE
March 26, 1992
http://www.nybooks.com/nyrev/WWWarchdisplay.cgi?19920326040R
Not Out of Africa
by Mary Lefkowitz
Was Greek Culture Stolen from Africa?
Modern Myth vs. Ancient History
Excerpted from--
"Not Out of Africa:
How Afrocentrism Became an Excuse to Teach Myth as History"
http://www.martinlutherking.org/not-out-africa.html
I was also taught that the Egyptians invented beer. However, I went to Beer Camp at the Oldenburg Brewery in Fort Mitchell, KY and they told us that the Mesopotamians invented it.
... and then half the class stood up and shouted "tastes great!"...
Imagine that--ancient Egyptians were speaking Latin. I suppose they invented that, too...?
Well having mastered architecture and agri-art, they have now moved onto studying proctology.
Some of my thoughts, too. Since Egypt is on the African continent, why did all this wonderful math not find its way to the other countries there? Had it made it, the African continent would be one of the most advanced civilized places on the planet. Instead, it's one of the most backward,war-ridden, corrupt hellholes this planet has to offer. And there seems to be NO apparent movement to catch up with the 21st century. Most of those place have to pass through the 16th, 17th, 18th 19th, & 20th centuries to even think about doing so.
Calculus is nothing more than counting by making piles of stones. Very, very old. The abacus was originally a way of keeping the stones from getting lost by making them into beads and putting them on strings, later wires.
Several cultures have invented beer. The science has been lost several times and it has been independently rediscovered.
Fermentation is a natural process.
I invented Post-Its.
I'm reading John Derbyshire's Unknown Quantity right now.
It's about the history of algebra; check it out if you can!
Everyday someone somewhere attempts to rewrite history.
bump
Were chewing gum or duct tape involved?
So did Leibnitz, at exactly the same time. Neither knew of the other's work.
There is some evidence that ancient Greek mathematicians may also have come up with the rudiments of calculus, but annoyances like political unrest, conquests, and the unfortunate death of Archimedes put an end to it.
Calculus is nothing more than counting by making piles of stones.I thought it came from dentistry.
Thanks, I read the Lefkowitz.
The best stones were kidney stones. The stones were calcium, which means the same thing and is also from the root as the word for counting stones. The first mathematicians were Egyptian (Africans, since Egypt was Africa at the time), who used various surveying calculations not only for relocating their planting fields after the frequent flooding, but also for laying out the massive stone constructs which they also needed as initial points to relocate their planting fields. The abacus was Greek, the Greeks having little use for it since they did not trade extensively, although it became popular in Asia due to its application in trade once Rome became wealthy enough to engage in commerce.
Have you ever noticed how many GGG posts are about how white Europeans were first to do this, that, and the other?
Without a "barf alert"?
What is it about Afrocentrism that's barfier than Eurocentrism?
BTW, I have also read claims by Indians and Chinese that they invented algebra, etc. Is that barfy?
The Atlantean's invented Algebra. While diving off the Bermuda Coast, next to the Triangle, I found the stone roadway of Atlantis. Carved on the cornerstone of this basalt infrastructure was the word:
Atlantis
Lane
Goes
East
Before
Arriving
It's a Road Map to Higher Learning!
Do you buy that?
I think some people forget that Egypt is in Africa.
Isaac Newton is having a temper tantrum somewhere right now.
Less Filling!
""I invented Post-Its.""
"Were chewing gum or duct tape involved?"
Roswell actually. You think mere humans could come up with advanced technology like that all by ourselves???
no, it was the Egyptians...you can tell tehy discovered it because of what they called it - they said "Aha! Calculus!"
Scratching my head... I always thought Roswell was involved in chewing gum & duct tape, not to mention velcro & teflon. Why are you trying to move the timeline to explain Post-Its?
"BTW, I have also read claims by Indians and Chinese that they invented algebra, etc. Is that barfy?"
I would consider any lie passed off as history "barfy".
"What is it about Afrocentrism that's barfier than Eurocentrism?"
I suppose it's false claims to have invented everything and every ancient notable person was black. Africa didn't drag Europe kicking and screaming into the the modern era, it was the other way around. The modern world was built in Europe. That's just the way it is. Sorry the facts aren't multi-culti enough for you.
Must be one of those affirmitive action black academics who wrote this.
This is so unintentionally hilarious that I had to clamp my jaws shut to keep from braying with laughter. Read the whole thing (it's short).
Africans not only did not invent algebra, it's appallingly clear that some African Americans still cannot comprehend it.
It's been refuted so many times, this is now beyond ridiculous!
"Scratching my head... I always thought Roswell was involved in chewing gum & duct tape, not to mention velcro & teflon. Why are you trying to move the timeline to explain Post-Its?"
There you go, thinking like a human again that time is linear.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/downloads/display_sound.php?ep_number=101&ep_name=Cartman Gets an Anal Probe&snd=http://images.southparkstudios.com/media/sounds/101/101_aliencontrol.wav&snd_name=I know it was just a dream, I know I didn't have an anal probe...
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