Introduction to Arithmetic - Classic Text | Alexandria
Introduction to Arithmetic (Arithmētikē eisagōgē), composed by Nicomachus of Gerasa around 100 CE, stands as one of the most influential mathematical texts of antiquity, serving as the primary arithmetic textbook in the Western world for nearly a millennium. This seminal work, written in Greek, represents the first purely theoretical treatise on arithmetic, distinguishing itself from earlier practical mathematical manuals by focusing on number theory and the philosophical properties of numbers.
Nicomachus, a Neo-Pythagorean philosopher and mathematician from Gerasa (modern-day Jerash, Jordan), wrote during a period of intense intellectual ferment in the Roman Empire, when Greek mathematical traditions were being synthesized with mystical and philosophical ideas. Historical records place his life between 60 and 120 CE, though precise dates remain contested. The text's earliest known references