The Middle Ages
Indian mathematicians were especially skilled in arithmetic, methods of calculation, algebra, and trigonometry. Their decimal place-valued number system, including zero, was especially suited for easy calculation. Aryabhata (476-550?) an Indian astronomer and the earliest Hindu mathematician was one of the first to use algebra. Aryabhata calculated pi to a very accurate value of 3.1416.
When the Greek civilization declined, Greek mathematics (and the rest of Greek science) was kept alive by the Arabs. The Arabs also learned of the considerable scientific achievements of the Indians, including the invention of a system of numerals (now called `arabic´ numerals) which could be used to write down calculations instead of having to resort to an abacus.

One of the greatest scientific minds of Islam was al-Khwarizmi, who introduced the name (al-jabr) that became known as algebra. By the end of the 8th century the influence of Islam had extended as far west as Spain. It was there, primarily, that Arabic, Jewish, and Western scholars eventually translated Greek and Islamic manuscripts into Latin.


Leonardo Fibonacci		 By the 13th century, original mathematical work by European authors had begun to appear. It was the demands of commerce which gave the major impetus to mathematical development and north Italy, the centre of trade at the time, produced a succession of important mathematicians beginning with Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci who introduced Arabic numerals. The Italians made considerable advances in elementary arithmetic which was needed for money-changing and for the technique of double-entry book-keeping invented in Venice.

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