Peter Zvengrowski - Vector analysis and the great 1890's controversy

Vector analysis has a long history going back even to Greek mathematics, but the foundations for the subject as we know it today were laid in 1843, quite independently and from different points of view, in Ireland (W. R. Hamilton) and in Germany (H. Grassmann). The talk will trace these beginnings, through the amazing controversy they led to in the 1890's, to developments in the 20-th century that to some extend seem to be not very well known in mathematical circles.

Some of the associated pedagogical questions will also be discussed.