Abstract

CAUNEDO DEL POTRO, Betsabé. De Arismetica: Un manual de aritmética para mercaderes. Cuad. hist. Esp. [online]. 2003, vol.78, pp.35-46. ISSN 0325-1195.

The aim of this work is to introduce a manuscript on commercial arithmetic written in Castilian in the fourteenth century. This kind of document proves the general practice of an educational activity on the subject in Castile, meant to serve a lively trade which involved deals between Castilian merchants and European centres both Atlantic and Mediterranean. The new arithmetic production is closely linked to the urban and commercial "revolution";, there being a rich Andalusi tradition in Castile, which enabled Castilian society to use all the mathematical cultural heritage acquired over a long time, and which would be affected by new influences. The document contains a small collection of problems (48) meant to provide the reader with the appropriate knowledge on operations with fractions.

Keywords : Castilian commercial arithmetic; Fourteenth century.