author
Max Simon
1844–1918
A German historian of mathematics and longtime teacher, he devoted much of his work to explaining how mathematics developed in the ancient world. His books connect technical ideas with the wider story of culture and education, making the history of math feel vivid and human.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born on June 8, 1844, in Kołobrzeg, Max Simon — also known as Maximilian Simon — was a German mathematics teacher and historian of mathematics. He studied in Berlin from 1862 to 1866 and earned his doctorate under Karl Weierstrass and Ernst Eduard Kummer.
He taught mathematics for many years and became especially known for his work on the history of ancient mathematics. Rather than treating the subject as a list of formulas and discoveries, he explored mathematics in connection with the cultures that produced it.
Simon died in Strasbourg on January 15, 1918. He is remembered for helping readers see mathematics not only as a technical discipline, but also as part of the broader history of ideas.