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Rithmomachia: the lost mathematical treasure of the dark ages

Rithmomachia: the lost mathematical treasure of the dark ages

By Michelle A. Necek

BA Thesis, Ball State University, 1998

Abstract: Rithmomachia is an ancient game composed mainly of mathematical principles and positional strategies similar to that of Chess. Since there are a number of variants of the game, this discussion focuses on the most common rules and victories that have emerged throughout history. The latter half of the discussion pertains to the analysis of twelve different games of Rithmomachia where players ranged from eleven to fifty years old. This direct observation is a further attempt to replicate the intimate relationship between the fascination of numbers and the study of mathematics.

Click here to read this thesis from Ball State University

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