984: Some Letters by Gerbert d’Aurillac Dealing with “Arabic” Mathematics and Astrology: Difference between revisions

Most important in this quote is Richer’s reference to “nine numerals which signify all possible numbers” (''novem numero notas'' ''omnem numerum significantes''). What Richer seems to suggest here, is that Gerbert did not use Roman numbers composed of one or more individual signs (e.g. the numbers 4, 6-9, i.e. IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX). Rather, he used individual signs to represent the basic numerals that make up the decimal system, i.e. one individual sign for each number from 1 to 9. Gerbert was not the first to substitute Roman numerals with alternative signs. So far, however, Greek letters had been used as substitutes.<ref name="ftn55">Folkerts, Names and Forms, p. 246, 248. </ref> As already mentioned above, the ''Codex Vigilanus'', a manuscript copied in the Catalonian monastery of Albelda in the year 976 contains the earliest depiction of Hindu-Arabic numerals in a Latin manuscript. These signs represent a western variant used on the Iberian Peninsula that are classified as “dust” (''ġubār'') numerals (See Fig. 1).<ref name="ftn56">See Kunitzsch, Transmission of Hindu-Arabic Numerals, pp. 11-14.</ref> Some of the names of the ''ġubār''-numerals are clearly of Arabic origin: this applies to the numbers four (''arbas'' < ''arbaʿ''), five (''quimas < ḫamsa''), and eight (''temenias < ṯamaniya'').<ref name="ftn57">Buddhue, Origin of Our Numerals, pp. 256-267; Ball, ''A Short History of Mathematics'', p. 115<nowiki>; Ľ Huillier, Regards sur la formation progressive, p. 544; Allard, Ľ influ</nowiki>ence des mathématiques arabes dans ľOccident médiéval, p. 200.</ref>

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Burnett, Charles: The Semantics of Indian Numerals in Arabic, Greek and Latin, in: ''Journal of Indian Philosophy'' 34/1-2 (2006), pp. 15-30, URL: www.jstor.org/stable/23496952.  

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Thompson, James Westfall: The Introduction of Arabic Science into Lorraine in the Tenth Century, in: ''Isis'' 12 (1929), pp. 184-193, URL: www.jstor.org/stable/224784.  

Zuccato, Marco: Gerbert of Aurillac and a Tenth-Century Jewish Channel for the Transmission of Arabic Science to the West, in: ''Speculum'' 80 (2005), pp. 742-763.|8=abacus; al-Andalus; Arabic; arithmetics; ''artes liberales''; astrolabe; astrology; astronomy; Barcelona; calculation; Catalonia; Córdoba; Gaul; geometry; Hindu-Arabic numerals, knowledge transfer; Latin; libraries; magic; manuscripts; mathematics; monasteries; Mozarabs; Ottonian dynasty; Ptolemy; quadrivium; Ripoll; Saracens; scholars; schools; science; scriptoria; teaching; translation; Umayyads|3a=[Geraldo abbati Aureliacensi] De multiplicatione et divisione numerorum libellum a Joseph Ispano editum abbas Warnerius penes vos reliquit; ejus exemplar in commune rogamus. Si limina beatorum Remigii et Dionisii datur vobis copia videndi, nuntio praemisso, vestris alloquiis poterimus codelectari.|4a=[To abbot Gerald of Aurillac, spring 984] Abbot Warnerius left with you a book “On Multiplication and the Division of Numbers” (''De multiplicatione et divisione numerorum'') written by Joseph the Spaniard, and we both would like a copy of it. If an opportunity of visiting St. Rémy or St. Denis presents itself to you, and if you send a messenger ahead, we will be able to enjoy some conversations with you.|3b=[Bonfilio Gerundensi episcopo] Multa quidem auctoritas vestris nominis me movet, cum ad videndum et alloquendum, tum etiam ad obtemperandum, et hoc diu negatum distulit negata libertas. Ea cum dolore concessa, domino meo Ottone Caesare jam non superstite, fas et amicis loqui, et eorum imperiis obsequi. Si qua nobis significare voletis, usque ad kl. novenbr. Remis, VIII kl. janr. Romae dicetis, si pace uti poterimus. De multiplicatione et divisione numerorum Joseph sapiens sententias quasdam edidit, eas pater meus Adalbero Remorum archiepiscopus vestro studio habere cupit.|4b=[To bishop Bonfill of Girona, spring 984] The great reputation of your name, indeed moves me not only to see and speak with you, but also to comply with your orders. It is only due to the fact that liberty has been denied me that I have so long put off this compliance. Now I that have my liberty, though only through sorrow, since my lord Otto the Caesar no longer lives, it is right for me both to talk to friends and to obey their commands. If you wish to make known anything to us, you can communicate with us at Reims until 1 November, or at Rome on 25 December, if we are able to avail ourselves of peace. Joseph the Wise edited certain sentences “On Multiplication and the Division of Numbers” (''De multiplicatione et divisione numerorum''), and my father Adalbero, archbishop of Reims, wishes to have these through your efforts.|3c=[Lupito Barchinonensi] Licet apud te nulla mea sint merita, nobilitas tamen ac affabilitas tua me adducit in te confidere, de te praesumere. Itaque librum de astrologia translatum a te michi petenti dirige, et si quid mei voles in reconpensationem indubitate reposce.|4c=[To bishop Lupitus of Barcelona, April 984] Although I have no claim on you, still your renown and your courtesy lead me to trust in you, in fact to presume on you. And, so, I am asking you to send me the book “On Astrology” (''De Astrologia''), transferred by you, and if you desire anything from me in return, ask for it unhesitatingly.}}