Franz Woepcke
Encyclopedia
Franz Woepcke was a German
Orientalist
and mathematician
. Woepcke is remembered for edition of numerous Arabic mathematical manuscripts.
He studied mathematics
at the University of Berlin, gaining his doctorate in 1847. Under the tutelage of archaeologist Ernst Heinrich Tölken
(1786–1869) he penned his dissertation involving sundial
s of antiquity (Archaeologico-mathematicae circa solaria veterum). Afterwards he studied Arabic
at the University of Bonn
, where in 1850 he received his habilitation.
Woepcke spent much of his subsequent career studying and working outside of Germany, particularly in Paris
. In 1856 he returned to Berlin and taught French
classes until 1858. He died in Paris
on March 25, 1864 at the age of 37.
Among his better known works were an edition of Omar Khayyám
(L'algèbre d'Omar Alkhayyami, publiée, traduite et accompagnée d'extraits des manuscrits inédits, 1851) and an edition of Fakhri Muhammad Alkarkhî
(Extrait du Fakhrî, traité d'algèbre par Mohammed Alkarkbi, précédé d'un mémoire sur l'algèbre indéterminée chez les Arabes, 1853). He was also author of several essays concerning relations between Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano and the Arabs (1856–61).
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
. Woepcke is remembered for edition of numerous Arabic mathematical manuscripts.
He studied mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at the University of Berlin, gaining his doctorate in 1847. Under the tutelage of archaeologist Ernst Heinrich Tölken
Ernst Heinrich Tölken
Ernst Heinrich Toelken was a German archaeologist.-Early life:He was born to the Bremen businessman Heinrich Toelken. His father and mother taught him themselves in his early years, and Toelken especially emphasizes the religious and cultural education he gained from his mother, saying that...
(1786–1869) he penned his dissertation involving sundial
Sundial
A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style onto a surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. The style is the time-telling edge of the gnomon, often a thin rod or a...
s of antiquity (Archaeologico-mathematicae circa solaria veterum). Afterwards he studied Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, where in 1850 he received his habilitation.
Woepcke spent much of his subsequent career studying and working outside of Germany, particularly in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1856 he returned to Berlin and taught French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
classes until 1858. He died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on March 25, 1864 at the age of 37.
Among his better known works were an edition of Omar Khayyám
Omar Khayyám
Omar Khayyám was aPersian polymath: philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and poet. He also wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, mineralogy, music, climatology and theology....
(L'algèbre d'Omar Alkhayyami, publiée, traduite et accompagnée d'extraits des manuscrits inédits, 1851) and an edition of Fakhri Muhammad Alkarkhî
Al-Karaji
' was a 10th century Persian Muslim mathematician and engineer. His three major works are Al-Badi' fi'l-hisab , Al-Fakhri fi'l-jabr wa'l-muqabala , and Al-Kafi fi'l-hisab .Because al-Karaji's original works in Arabic are lost, it is not...
(Extrait du Fakhrî, traité d'algèbre par Mohammed Alkarkbi, précédé d'un mémoire sur l'algèbre indéterminée chez les Arabes, 1853). He was also author of several essays concerning relations between Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano and the Arabs (1856–61).