Please join us on Thursday, March 28, 2019, 7:00 pm, at Tory Breezeway 1. All are welcome.
"In spite of the difficulties presented by their cumbersome numerical signs, the Romans were yet able to perform complicated mathematical problems by means of the abacus and by a system of finger-counting. The truth of this statement is generally recognized; but when one turns to the various works on Roman private life for information as to the actual use of the second method he is doomed to disappointment." ~ Edward A. Bechtel, Finger-Counting Among the Romans in the Fourth Century.
Come to the talk to review the evidence for this assertion and hear about how the Romans actually did calculate on their fingers!
Christopher Mackay has a PhD in Classical Philology from Harvard University, and is a Professor at the Department of History and Classics, University of Alberta. He has a number of interests, which are generally of a linguistic nature - mainly Latin, but also Early Modern High and Low German. As an author he has written on Roman history, witchcraft and the Anabaptist kingdom of Münster of 1534/5. He also has an interest in graphic design, and designed the cover for the paperback edition of Breakdown of the Roman Republic. According to him, he and Kelly have way too many cats.