The Abacus and the Cross: The Story of the Pope Who Brought the Light of Science to the Dark AgesBasic Books, 2010 M12 7 - 328 pages The medieval Catholic Church, widely considered a source of intolerance and inquisitorial fervor, was not anti-science during the Dark Ages -- in fact, the pope in the year 1000 was the leading mathematician and astronomer of his day. Called "The Scientist Pope," Gerbert of Aurillac rose from peasant beginnings to lead the church. By turns a teacher, traitor, kingmaker, and visionary, Gerbert is the first Christian known to teach math using the nine Arabic numerals and zero. In The Abacus and the Cross, Nancy Marie Brown skillfully explores the new learning Gerbert brought to Europe. A fascinating narrative of one remarkable math teacher, The Abacus and the Cross will captivate readers of history, science, and religion alike. |
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The Abacus and the Cross: The Story of the Pope Who Brought the Light of ... Nancy Marie Brown No preview available - 2012 |
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abacus Abbo abbot According Adalbero Ages Arabic archbishop arithmetic arts asked astrolabe astronomer Aurillac became bishop Bobbio brought calculate called cathedral celestial century Charles Christian church circle Constantine copy Count cross dated death describes died earth emperor empire Empress explain finger Fleury France French geometry Gerbert German give Greek hand Holy Hugh hundred Italy John king knew knights knowledge known land later Latin learned letters lines look manuscript mathematics means medieval mind monastery monk needed never notes numbers Otto Otto’s person Plate poem pope Reims returned Riché Richer of Saint-Remy Roman Rome rule Saint says scholar scientific sent seven side signs Spain sphere stars story student taught teacher teaching Theophanu things thought took translated turned write written wrote