Subject: Re: [HM] The Universal History of Numbers
From: Milo Gardner (milogardner@juno.com)
Date: Wed Jun 07 2000 - 14:52:59 EDT
I would like to thank John and Kim for their comments and references
on this book. Yesterday I re-read sections of George's noble quest
and found the English version complete with an adequate index, as
John mentioned. Kim is clear and correct on her points, why would
George have attempted such a quest without sticking close to his
primary sources?
I find many bits of interesting facts in George's book, despite its
structural weaknesses. For example, the fact that Hittites wrote
easily in base 60, base 10 and cuneiform and hieroglyphics for a long
period of time is interesting. Seen in this manner the Hittites may
have been the first bi-cultural nation. Another example is the
Minoan Linear A, B numeration case(s).
Listing a wide arrary of numeration facts, over a multi-cultural
context, covering the majority of the world's advanced cultures
opens many 'unsolved' doors. One day Linear A may be read, maybe
motivated by examples provided by George and other books that seem
not be the a summary of the accepted paradigms of history.
Regards to all,
Milo Gardner
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