Quadrivium is the term used to describe the doctrines of geometry, astronomy, music theory (the exception in this paper), and arithmetic (www.dictionary.com). These studies have all evolved overtime and have had a significant impact on the fields of math and science. However, for these changes to be made, someone had to be willing to put in time and effort to change the way we perceived these ideas and how we could use them to advance in the future. One example of a person who changed the way we as humans viewed geometry, astronomy, and arithmetic is Hypatia of Alexandria.
Hypatia of Alexandria (as said by the researchers of www.ancient.eu) was born between c.350 and c.370 in Alexandria, Egypt. Little is known about Hypatia’s childhood, but …show more content…
She had to use the Greek lettering system to solve math problems and correct equations, due to the Arabic numerical system not being introduced at the time. Most of Hypatia’s known mathematics were conducted by using the formulas of x-y=a and x^2-y^2=(x-y) +b, which were referred to as simultaneous pairs. Most of her well known contributions to math were revisions to the work of her male cohorts. Three of her heavily appraised corrections and commentaries were to that of: Ptolemy’s “Almagest”, Apollonius’ review of Conics, and her father Theon’s lessons of the “Euclid Elements”. She even revised her commentary of “The Arithmetica” conducted by …show more content…
However, her reign did endure tragedy due to the controversy of a woman teaching astronomy, which was considered blasphemous due to a debacle between the church of Alexandria and the head of the Alexandrian government. The leader of the church, Cyril and the head of Alexandria, Orestes were arguing over the Christian influence being deemed superior over that of Judaism. Orestes had assumed that Hypatia had dabbled in the “Satanic arts”, but it was Cyril who sought to assimilate Hypatia. After delivering a message to scholars at the University of Alexandria, she was slain by a mob of extremists, who stripped her of her garments, beat her to death and burned her body in a church. The book “Hypatia” by Charles Kingsley provides imagery as to how the Christian world viewed Hypatia. “…she who had all her life tried to be self-dependent, (and) originative, (had) to face and crush the hostile mob of circumstance and custom and do battle single-handed with Christianity and a fallen age…”. This gruesome murdered was a part of Cyril’s attempt to “suppress the paganism of others” and show the true elements of his faith. The death of Hypatia is the most recorded moment of her life, which lead to the idea that Christians were overt enemies to the concepts of learning and
Hypatia of Alexandria (as said by the researchers of www.ancient.eu) was born between c.350 and c.370 in Alexandria, Egypt. Little is known about Hypatia’s childhood, but …show more content…
She had to use the Greek lettering system to solve math problems and correct equations, due to the Arabic numerical system not being introduced at the time. Most of Hypatia’s known mathematics were conducted by using the formulas of x-y=a and x^2-y^2=(x-y) +b, which were referred to as simultaneous pairs. Most of her well known contributions to math were revisions to the work of her male cohorts. Three of her heavily appraised corrections and commentaries were to that of: Ptolemy’s “Almagest”, Apollonius’ review of Conics, and her father Theon’s lessons of the “Euclid Elements”. She even revised her commentary of “The Arithmetica” conducted by …show more content…
However, her reign did endure tragedy due to the controversy of a woman teaching astronomy, which was considered blasphemous due to a debacle between the church of Alexandria and the head of the Alexandrian government. The leader of the church, Cyril and the head of Alexandria, Orestes were arguing over the Christian influence being deemed superior over that of Judaism. Orestes had assumed that Hypatia had dabbled in the “Satanic arts”, but it was Cyril who sought to assimilate Hypatia. After delivering a message to scholars at the University of Alexandria, she was slain by a mob of extremists, who stripped her of her garments, beat her to death and burned her body in a church. The book “Hypatia” by Charles Kingsley provides imagery as to how the Christian world viewed Hypatia. “…she who had all her life tried to be self-dependent, (and) originative, (had) to face and crush the hostile mob of circumstance and custom and do battle single-handed with Christianity and a fallen age…”. This gruesome murdered was a part of Cyril’s attempt to “suppress the paganism of others” and show the true elements of his faith. The death of Hypatia is the most recorded moment of her life, which lead to the idea that Christians were overt enemies to the concepts of learning and