Download or read book Geometrical Landscapes written by Amir R. Alexander and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This challenging book argues that a new way of speaking of mathematics and describing it emerged at the end of the 16th century. Leading mathematicians began referring to their field in terms drawn from the exploration accounts of Columbus and Magellan. Many of those who promoted the vision of mathematics as heroic exploration also played central roles in developing the most important mathematical innovation of the period?the infinitesimal methods, which the author shows was no coincidence.