My research currently focuses on medieval and early modern mathematical sources, with the goal of understanding how the development of mathematics and mathematical thinking, the diffusion of the Hindu-Arabic numerals and the propagation of the exact sciences came about in Europe. Our knowledge is based on sources from Asia Minor, making their way over the Mediterranean Sea to Italy and Spain whilst undergoing several translation processes. German mathematical sources are directly based on Italian texts; but the general development and diffusion of this knowledge is very heterogeneous throughout medieval and early modern Europe. We hardly know of any Slavic or northern European handwritten sources even though we know of existing commercial relationships at the time. This can either be rooted in poor documentation or an absence of source - both cases being important in terms of circulation of science and knowledge throughout Eurasia. 

My questions directly connect with Research Node 2 that deals with Communication and Mobility and asks about limits of this mobility and its exchanges: Cultural networks, encounters with different languages and the establishment and development of knowledge networks are as important as the entanglement of languages and the cultures of writing. Our multilingual mathematical sources, the translation processes, the importance for (long distance) trade, and the evolution and formation of (transnational) sciences are research topics I would like to adresse within the Cluster therefore opening up my own research to more vernaculars. My goal is to start with these mathematical sources, posing and hopefully also answering overarching questions on the development and establishment of the sciences and scientific thinking as a cultural process happening on several levels from individuals to groups (e.g. traders, academics, craftsmen) expanding to larger realms within a vernacular and lastly stretching out to and connecting all of the Mediterranean world up until Asia Minor.