Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India c6.s9.17

c6.s9.17

Euclid (c. 300 B. C.) in his *Elements* divides the rectilinear figures according to the number of their sides¹ but later on, he introduced the angle nomenclature also.² The Romans simply followed the Greek usuage³. The early Egyptians together with the Babylonians, Hebrews and Arabs are said to have followed only the side nomenclature. Since the Indian School made use of both the angle and the side nomenclature from the time of the *Śulbasūtras* (c. 600 B. C.) i.e. earlier than Euclid, there is no reason to suggest that the Indians borrowed their ideas from those of the Greeks, on the other hand it might be otherwise.