• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-51
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• 2018

In this paper, our main concern is the historical development of the Finsler geometry in Debrecen, Hungary initiated by L. Berwald. First we look into the research trend in Berwald's days affected by the $G{\ddot{o}}ttingen$ mathematicians from C. Gauss and downward. Then we study how he was motivated to concentrate on the then completely new research area, Finsler geometry. Finally we examine the course of establishing Hungarian Debrecen school of Finsler geometry via the scholars including O. Varga, A. $Rapcs{\acute{a}}k$, L. $Tam{\acute{a}}ssy$ all deeply affected by Berwald after his settlement in Debrecen, Hungary.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.89-111
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• 2021

This paper is a continuation of the study on the history of the Japanese school of Finsler geometry. We had studied on the birth of Japanese school of Finsler geometry. In this paper, we find out what motivated Japanese to embrace Finsler geometry and we collect the history and analyze trends of Japanese school of Finsler geometry since its founding by M. Matsumoto.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2019

We divide the timeline of the history of Finsler geometry, which dates back to Riemann's inaugural lecture in 1854, into three periods (hibernation, hiatus, rebirth) and we study formation of Romanian Finsler school around Iasi, Romania during the hiatus period. We look for the history centered around Radu Miron who is a third generation geometer of Iasi University and the mathematical heritage there through five generations. We also investigate mathematical impact of T. Levi-Civita, D. Hilbert, ${\acute{E}}$ Cartan who are considered as top mathematicians at their time.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.55-74
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• 2021

Matsumoto Makoto is regarded as founding father of the Japanese school of Finsler geometry because he established the Japanese Society of Finsler Geometry in 1968 and organized the Symposium every year since then. In this paper, we investigate how Matsumoto initiated the study of this topic leaping over geographical limit and how Yano Kentaro and Kawaguchi Akitsugu had affected Matsumoto in the formation of the Japanese school of Finsler geometry. We also take a view of the role of É. Cartan who invented the concept of the connection in early 20th century in this regard.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.133-149
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• 2015

Arrivals of Hilbert and Minkowski at $G\ddot{o}ttingen$ put mathematical science there in full flourish. They further extended its strong mathematical tradition of Gauss and Riemann. Though Riemann envisioned Finsler metric and gave an example of it in his inaugural lecture of 1854, Finsler geometry was officially named after Minkowski's academic grandson Finsler. His tool to generalize Riemannian geometry was the calculus of variations of which his advisor $Carath\acute{e}odory$ was a master. Another $G\ddot{o}ttingen$ graduate Busemann regraded Finsler geometry as a special case of geometry of metric spaces. He was a student of Courant who was a student of Hilbert. These figures all at $G\ddot{o}ttingen$ created and developed Finsler geometry in its early stages. In this paper, we investigate history of works on Finsler geometry contributed by these frontiers.