Parallel Postulate History
About This Infographic
This interactive infographic explores the 2000+ year history of the Parallel Postulate and how questioning it led to revolutionary discoveries in mathematics and physics.
Timeline Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 300 BCE | Euclid states the Fifth Postulate |
| 1733 | Saccheri explores alternatives |
| 1829 | Lobachevsky publishes hyperbolic geometry |
| 1854 | Riemann develops elliptic geometry |
| 1915 | Einstein uses non-Euclidean geometry |
Three Types of Geometry
| Geometry | Parallels | Surface | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euclidean | Exactly 1 | Flat plane | Everyday geometry |
| Hyperbolic | Infinitely many | Saddle shape | Special relativity |
| Elliptic | Zero (none) | Sphere | Earth navigation |
How to Use
- Hover over timeline to see historical events
- Click geometry panels to select and explore
- Compare visualizations of different geometries
Learning Objectives
- Understand the historical context of the Parallel Postulate
- Evaluate the mathematical significance of proving impossibility
- Compare Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries
Bloom's Taxonomy Level
Understanding and Evaluating - Historical and conceptual analysis.
Iframe Embed Code
<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/geometry-course/sims/parallel-postulate-history/main.html"
height="602px"
width="100%"
scrolling="no"></iframe>