The Making of a Scribe
Errors, Mistakes and Rounding Numbers in the Old Babylonian Kingdom of Larsa
Authors: Middeke-Conlin, Robert
Free Preview- Introduces new methodological tools to explore economic texts for mathematical practice
- Shows the importance mathematics has as a tool for ancient practitioners to cope with complex economic processes
- Presents historians of mathematics a method to study practical texts
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- About this book
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This book presents a novel methodology to study economic texts. The author investigates discrepancies in these writings by focusing on errors, mistakes, and rounding numbers. In particular, he looks at the acquisition, use, and development of practical mathematics in an ancient society: The Old Babylonian kingdom of Larsa (beginning of the second millennium BCE Southern Iraq). In so doing, coverage bridges a gap between the sciences and humanities.
Through this work, the reader will gain insight into discrepancies encountered in economic texts in general and rounding numbers in particular. They will learn a new framework to explain error as a form of economic practice. Researchers and students will also become aware of the numerical and metrological basis for calculation in these writings and how the scribes themselves conceptualized value.
This work fills a void in Assyriological studies. It provides a methodology to explore, understand, and exploit statistical data. The anlaysis also fills a void in the history of mathematics by presenting historians of mathematics a method to study practical texts. In addition, the author shows the importance mathematics has as a tool for ancient practitioners to cope with complex economic processes. This serves as a useful case study for modern policy makers into the importance of education in any economy.
- Table of contents (10 chapters)
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Introduction
Pages 1-20
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The Early Scribal Education
Pages 21-58
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Text Types and Archival Practices in the Kingdom of Larsa
Pages 59-80
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Archives, Bureaus and Management Systems in the Kingdom of Larsa
Pages 81-99
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Metrology and Sexagesimal Place Value Notation in Economic Texts
Pages 101-119
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Table of contents (10 chapters)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
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- Book Title
- The Making of a Scribe
- Book Subtitle
- Errors, Mistakes and Rounding Numbers in the Old Babylonian Kingdom of Larsa
- Authors
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- Robert Middeke-Conlin
- Series Title
- Why the Sciences of the Ancient World Matter
- Series Volume
- 4
- Copyright
- 2020
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Copyright Holder
- Springer Nature Switzerland AG
- eBook ISBN
- 978-3-030-35951-5
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-030-35951-5
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-3-030-35950-8
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-3-030-35953-9
- Series ISSN
- 2662-9933
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XXII, 487
- Number of Illustrations
- 135 b/w illustrations
- Topics
