During the time from June 28-July 1, 1978, representatives of different branches of geometry met in Siegen for discussion of and reports on current problems. In particular, the survey lectures, presented by well known geometers, gave nonspecialists the welcome opportunity to learn about the questions posed, the methods used and the results obtained in different areas of the field of geometry. The research areas represented at the meeting in Siegen are reflected in the list of participants and their contributions: Ranging from geometric convexity and related topics to differential geometry and kinematics. The foundations of geometry, an area well established in Germany, was also represented. It is a pleasure to thank all the lecturers as well as other participants in the Geometry Symposium for their contribution to the success of the meeting. We also thank the "Minister fUr Wissenschaft und Forschung des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen" and the University of Siegen for their generous support which helped make the Symposium so successful. In order to make the contributions and results of the Symposium accessible to the general public, the publication of a proceedings volume was planned. The idea was to give a summary of a wide spectrum of research in geometr- through survey articles and original research papers.

"The book includes introductions, terminology and biographical notes, bibliography, and an index and glossary" --from book jacket.

The present volume provides a fascinating overview of geometrical ideas and perceptions from the earliest cultures to the mathematical and artistic concepts of the 20th century. It is the English translation of the 3rd edition of the well-received German book “5000 Jahre Geometrie,” in which geometry is presented as a chain of developments in cultural history and their interaction with architecture, the visual arts, philosophy, science and engineering. Geometry originated in the ancient cultures along the Indus and Nile Rivers and in Mesopotamia, experiencing its first “Golden Age” in Ancient Greece. Inspired by the Greek mathematics, a new germ of geometry blossomed in the Islamic civilizations. Through the Oriental influence on Spain, this knowledge later spread to Western Europe. Here, as part of the medieval Quadrivium, the understanding of geometry was deepened, leading to a revival during the Renaissance. Together with parallel achievements in India, China, Japan and the ancient American cultures, the European approaches formed the ideas and branches of geometry we know in the modern age: coordinate methods, analytical geometry, descriptive and projective geometry in the 17th an 18th centuries, axiom systems, geometry as a theory with multiple structures and geometry in computer sciences in the 19th and 20th centuries. Each chapter of the book starts with a table of key historical and cultural dates and ends with a summary of essential contents of geometr y in the respective era. Compelling examples invite the reader to further explore the problems of geometry in ancient and modern times. The book will appeal to mathematicians interested in Geometry and to all readers with an interest in cultural history. From letters to the authors for the German language edition I hope it gets a translation, as there is no comparable work. Prof. J. Grattan-Guinness (Middlesex University London) "Five Thousand Years of Geometry" - I think it is the most handsome book I have ever seen from Springer and the inclusion of so many color plates really improves its appearance dramatically! Prof. J.W. Dauben (City University of New York) An excellent book in every respect. The authors have successfully combined the history of geometry with the general development of culture and history. ... The graphic design is also excellent. Prof. Z. Nádenik (Czech Technical University in Prague)

Ptolemy's Almagest is one of the most influential scientific works in history. A masterpiece of technical exposition, it was the basic textbook of astronomy for more than a thousand years, and still is the main source for our knowledge of ancient astronomy. This translation, based on the standard Greek text of Heiberg, makes the work accessible to English readers in an intelligible and reliable form. It contains numerous corrections derived from medieval Arabic translations and extensive footnotes that take account of the great progress in understanding the work made in this century, due to the discovery of Babylonian records and other researches. It is designed to stand by itself as an interpretation of the original, but it will also be useful as an aid to reading the Greek text.

In Contributions to Automorphic Forms, Geometry, and Number Theory, Haruzo Hida, Dinakar Ramakrishnan, and Freydoon Shahidi bring together a distinguished group of experts to explore automorphic forms, principally via the associated L-functions, representation theory, and geometry. Because these themes are at the cutting edge of a central area of modern mathematics, and are related to the philosophical base of Wiles' proof of Fermat's last theorem, this book will be of interest to working mathematicians and students alike. Never previously published, the contributions to this volume expose the reader to a host of difficult and thought-provoking problems. Each of the extraordinary and noteworthy mathematicians in this volume makes a unique contribution to a field that is currently seeing explosive growth. New and powerful results are being proved, radically and continually changing the field's make up. Contributions to Automorphic Forms, Geometry, and Number Theory will likely lead to vital interaction among researchers and also help prepare students and other young mathematicians to enter this exciting area of pure mathematics. Contributors: Jeffrey Adams, Jeffrey D. Adler, James Arthur, Don Blasius, Siegfried Boecherer, Daniel Bump, William Casselmann, Laurent Clozel, James Cogdell, Laurence Corwin, Solomon Friedberg, Masaaki Furusawa, Benedict Gross, Thomas Hales, Joseph Harris, Michael Harris, Jeffrey Hoffstein, Hervé Jacquet, Dihua Jiang, Nicholas Katz, Henry Kim, Victor Kreiman, Stephen Kudla, Philip Kutzko, V. Lakshmibai, Robert Langlands, Erez Lapid, Ilya Piatetski-Shapiro, Dipendra Prasad, Stephen Rallis, Dinakar Ramakrishnan, Paul Sally, Freydoon Shahidi, Peter Sarnak, Rainer Schulze-Pillot, Joseph Shalika, David Soudry, Ramin Takloo-Bigash, Yuri Tschinkel, Emmanuel Ullmo, Marie-France Vignéras, Jean-Loup Waldspurger.

This book offers a unique opportunity to understand the essence of one of the great thinkers of western civilization. A guided reading of Euclid's Elements leads to a critical discussion and rigorous modern treatment of Euclid's geometry and its more recent descendants, with complete proofs. Topics include the introduction of coordinates, the theory of area, history of the parallel postulate, the various non-Euclidean geometries, and the regular and semi-regular polyhedra.

The volume reports on interdisciplinary discussions and interactions between theoretical research and practical studies on geometric structures and their applications in architecture, the arts, design, education, engineering, and mathematics. These related fields of research can enrich each other and renew their mutual interest in these topics through networks of shared inspiration, and can ultimately enhance the quality of geometry and graphics education. Particular attention is dedicated to the contributions that women have made to the scientific community and especially mathematics. The book introduces engineers, architects and designers interested in computer applications, graphics and geometry to the latest advances in the field, with a particular focus on science, the arts and mathematics education.