Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This episode of Math! Science! History! uncovers the true story of Maria Gaetana Agnesi, the 18th-century mathematician mislabeled the "Witch of Agnesi." In this episode I explore her groundbreaking textbook, the social pressures she faced, and her later life of charity.
Episode Overview
Visit Milan's intellectual salons where young Agnesi dazzled as a polyglot prodigy, only to channel her brilliance into Instituzioni analitiche, a pioneering calculus textbook for Italian youth. Discover how she rejected fame for charity, leading a hospital for the poor and dying among those she served, showing that her legacy was teaching and compassion, not witchcraft.
Three Things Listeners Will Learn
Agnesi's "Witch" curve was a mistranslation of versiera; her real impact was systematizing calculus for students.
Despite family ambitions and societal constraints, she authored the first advanced math text by a woman, aided by mentors like Rampinelli.
In her later years, she ran a Milan hospital and chose to be close to the women she cared after.
🔗 Explore more on our website: MathScienceHistory.com (mathsciencehistory.com/)
📚 To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h (https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h)
🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?
☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal (paypal.com/ncp/payment/PR7F7ST49GDNA)
Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show!
Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform
Check out our merch: mathsciencehistory.com/the-store (mathsciencehistory.com/the-store)
Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers
Little Prelude for the Luth - by Laurent Buczek (pixabay.com/users/lorenzobuczek-16982400/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=179451) from Pixabay (pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=179451)
The Venture by from Pixabay (pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=255612)
Unconditional by from Pixabay (pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=255612)
Until next time, carpe diem!
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/32495938?utm_source=youtube
This episode of Math! Science! History! uncovers the true story of Maria Gaetana Agnesi, the 18th-century mathematician mislabeled the "Witch of Agnesi." In this episode I explore her groundbreaking textbook, the social pressures she faced, and her later life of charity.
Episode Overview
Visit Milan's intellectual salons where young Agnesi dazzled as a polyglot prodigy, only to channel her brilliance into Instituzioni analitiche, a pioneering calculus textbook for Italian youth. Discover how she rejected fame for charity, leading a hospital for the poor and dying among those she served, showing that her legacy was teaching and compassion, not witchcraft.
Three Things Listeners Will Learn
Agnesi's "Witch" curve was a mistranslation of versiera; her real impact was systematizing calculus for students.
Despite family ambitions and societal constraints, she authored the first advanced math text by a woman, aided by mentors like Rampinelli.
In her later years, she ran a Milan hospital and chose to be close to the women she cared after.
🔗 Explore more on our website: MathScienceHistory.com (mathsciencehistory.com/)
📚 To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h (https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h)
🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?
☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal (paypal.com/ncp/payment/PR7F7ST49GDNA)
Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show!
Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform
Check out our merch: mathsciencehistory.com/the-store (mathsciencehistory.com/the-store)
Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers
Little Prelude for the Luth - by Laurent Buczek (pixabay.com/users/lorenzobuczek-16982400/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=179451) from Pixabay (pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=179451)
The Venture by from Pixabay (pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=255612)
Unconditional by from Pixabay (pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=255612)
Until next time, carpe diem!
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/32495938?utm_source=youtube
