Mathematics has been a part of human culture for thousands of years, and it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of mathematical concepts. However, there are a few ancient civilizations that made significant contributions to the development of math as we know it today.
One of the oldest known civilizations to use math was ancient Sumer, which was located in what is now modern-day Iraq. The Sumerians developed a system of math based on the number 60, which is still used today to measure time and angles. They also used a base-60 number system, which is why we have 60 seconds in a minute and 360 degrees in a circle.
The ancient Egyptians also made significant contributions to math. They developed a system of hieroglyphics that included symbols for numbers, and they used math for practical purposes such as measuring land and building pyramids.
The ancient Greeks are often credited with the development of formal math as a subject of study. Pythagoras, a Greek mathematician and philosopher, is known for his contributions to geometry and the concept of mathematical proof. Euclid, another Greek mathematician, wrote a book called "Elements," which is still considered a foundational text in math.
In more recent history, the development of calculus by Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz in the 17th century revolutionized the field of math and opened up new areas of study.
Overall, math has been a part of human culture for thousands of years, and it has evolved and developed over time through the contributions of many different civilizations and individuals.