Archimedes, the myth and his work

It is accurate to say that rationalism—that is, the pursuit of a more systematic understanding of how the Universe functions as a whole—was born on Greek soil, and it was this new perception that led to the abandonment of certain religious dogmas. Consequently, philosophy and science emerged. It was also through this rupture that mathematics was identified as the key to understanding the Universe. From then on, many men distinguished themselves, but it is fair to say that, among them all, the one who certainly reached the highest level was Archimedes. Archimedes, the greatest genius of antiquity, left a scientific legacy that stands as one of the greatest ever left by a single man. His works cover subjects related to engineering, mechanics, astronomy, mathematics, physics, among others. The grandeur of his multifaceted work is only fully grasped when we consider the time and conditions in which Archimedes lived. As an inventor, he stood out for defending the city of Syracuse, confronting the powerful Roman army with his own weapons.

In this book, the reader will find texts about the life of the Greek scientist, as well as a significant portion of his work.