Linear algebra from a historical perspective?

[math5434]

Hi all,

I am looking for either (or both) a non-technical historical account of linear algebra (the closest I've found is Crowe's "A History of Vector Analysis") or an introductory (first course) book that develops the basic ideas in roughly the order they were developed. Do such books exist?

 

[fourier jr]

this is the closest thing i can think of
http://mathdl.maa.org/mathDL/22/?pa=content&sa=viewDocument&nodeId=2952

 

[math5434]

Thanks! Anyone else? It's surprising there is not a more extensive treatment of the historical development of linear algebra. I would think it would be a popular read.

 

[epenguin]

The theory of determinants in the historical order of development, by Sir Thomas Muir. 3vols I think (Paperback)
~ Michigan Historical Reprint Series (Author) "THE number of writings to be considered under this heading amounts to about one hundred and eighty (180), and the number of writers to about..."

 

[fourier jr]

here's another one I've stumbled on
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WG9-45NJHDR-D&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F1995&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=190a5d1659e04624a4da353b06a4cb11

haven't read it yet, but i would say it's good because it's relatively recent so it would reference a lot of stuff on the subject that has come before it