The official publications sponsored by the academies, as well as independent journals such as the Acta Eruditorum (founded in 1682), made possible the open and prompt communication of research findings. In 1660 the Royal Society of London was founded, to be followed in 1666 by the French Academy of Sciences, in 1700 by the Berlin Academy, and in 1724 by the St. Later in the century John Collins, librarian of London’s Royal Society, performed a similar function among British mathematicians. Marin Mersenne in Paris acted as a clearinghouse for new results, informing his many correspondents-including Pierre de Fermat, Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Gilles Personne de Roberval, and Galileo-of challenge problems and novel solutions. At a time when people were often slow to publish, “invisible colleges,” networks of scientists who corresponded privately, played an important role in coordinating and stimulating mathematical research. Until the middle of the 17th century, mathematicians worked alone or in small groups, publishing their work in books or communicating with other researchers by letter. The extensive use of analytic methods, the incorporation of applied subjects, and the adoption of a pragmatic attitude to questions of logical rigour distinguished the new mathematics from traditional geometry. In the next century this program would continue to develop in close association with physics, more particularly mechanics and theoretical astronomy. By the end of the 17th century, a program of research based in analysis had replaced classical Greek geometry at the centre of advanced mathematics.
Advances in numerical calculation, the development of symbolic algebra and analytic geometry, and the invention of the differential and integral calculus resulted in a major expansion of the subject areas of mathematics. This period was also one of intense activity and innovation in mathematics. The 17th century, the period of the scientific revolution, witnessed the consolidation of Copernican heliocentric astronomy and the establishment of inertial physics in the work of Johannes Kepler, Galileo, René Descartes, and Isaac Newton. Mathematics in the 17th and 18th centuries The 17th century SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!.
Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them!
COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.Student Portal Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.From tech to household and wellness products. Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.This Time in History In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.#WTFact Videos In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.