Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Number
(2,284 words)

1. Number theory

1.1. Concept and origins

In the widest sense, number theory is concerned with the properties of integers. This includes issues of partition into prime factors, divisibility, and the integer solutions of equations (“Diophantine equations”; see below, 1.3.). The early modern genesis of this discipline was heavily influenced by the reception of two ancient Greek works, the Elements of Euclid (c. 300 BCE) and the Arithmetica of Diophantus of Alexandria (3rd century CE) [1].

1.2. Renaissance

Beginnin…

Cite this page
Jahnke, Hans Niels and Moßburger, Hubert, “Number”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_030639>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20200128



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