Peiper
rationalist libertarian
I debated whether or not to respond to the outlandish claims made in the following post. However, upon re-reading this claim:
"Just about every scientific discovery made by the Greeks or the Chinese was made before by the Indians."
I have chosen to respond. Further documentation and sources will be provided as requested.
"Most of the ancient mathematical and scientific achievements came from India..."
Why must you denigrate the real contributions made by India and exaggerate your claims? There were very important contributions, especially to mathematics, by India. However, some of your claims are on a parallel with the ridiculous Afro-centrist claims that all Greek thought was "stolen" from sub-Saharan Africa. With all due respect, let us examine your list.
"...concepts of both zero..."
A truly magnificent discovery. Approximately, 620 CE. However, this time period is not in antiquity. Also, it is asserted by many historians of mathematics that the Indian use of zero evolved from its use by Greek astronomers.
"...infinity..."
Aristotle was the first to articulate infinity as a mathematical notion:
Since no sensible magnitude is infinite, it is impossible to exceed every assigned magnitude; for if it were possible there would be something bigger than the heavens.
~ Book III, Physics
"...decimals..."
Another magnificent invention: the Base Ten Numeral System. Developed approximately 875 CE. This time period is also not in antiquity.
It should be noted that the Babylonians had a place-value system as early as the 19th century BCE, but the system was a base 60.
"...algebra..."
The first treatise on algebra was written by Diophantus of Alexandria in the 3rd century CE.
"...trig..."
The invention of trigonometry can be associated with certainty to the studies of astronomy of the geometric school of Alexandria.
However, there were important Indian contributions to trigonometry. The first work containing the table of the sines, which dates from the 4th or 5th century CE, is known by the name of Surya Siddhanta.
"...calculus..."
The beginnings of integration can be recognized in the work of the ancient Greeks (Euclid, Archimedes) in finding areas of curved regions and volumes of curved solids.
The beginnings of differentiation were much later, in the work of the early 17th century on tangents to curves and instantaneous rates of change. The recognition that these two processes are inverses of each other (the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus") and the major initial development of the theory occurred in the late 17th century, mainly in the work of Newton (1642-1727) and Leibniz (1646-1716).
"...metallurgy..."
I am not sure how you can claim that Indian civilization invented metallurgy.
"...chemistry..."
Chemistry is a relatively new field of study. Robert Boyle (1627-1691), was one of the first researchers to have a scientific approach to the atomism of the Ancient Greeks, as an opposition to the four element theory of Aristotle and the Paracelsus theories. His book The Sceptical Chemist opened a new era in the history of Chemistry, where terms like atom or molecule appeared. Boyle is often considered the founder of chemical analysis due to his studies of materials composition.
"The world's oldest university was in India. It was Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The campus accommodated 10,500 students who came from as far as Babylonia, Greece, Syria, Arabia, and China and offered over sixty different courses in various fields, such as science, mathematics, medicine, politics, warfare, astrology, astronomy, music, religion, and philosophy."
The only evidence that such a university existed is found on ethocentric and nationalistic lists with such titles as: "Why India is Great." While a Google search for "oldest world university" resulted in articles describing a university being unearthed in Egypt. The university was found in Alexandria and dates to the 5th century CE.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/05/26/egypt.university.discovery.ap/
"Just about every scientific discovery made by the Greeks or the Chinese was made before by the Indians."
I have chosen to respond. Further documentation and sources will be provided as requested.
"Most of the ancient mathematical and scientific achievements came from India..."
Why must you denigrate the real contributions made by India and exaggerate your claims? There were very important contributions, especially to mathematics, by India. However, some of your claims are on a parallel with the ridiculous Afro-centrist claims that all Greek thought was "stolen" from sub-Saharan Africa. With all due respect, let us examine your list.
"...concepts of both zero..."
A truly magnificent discovery. Approximately, 620 CE. However, this time period is not in antiquity. Also, it is asserted by many historians of mathematics that the Indian use of zero evolved from its use by Greek astronomers.
"...infinity..."
Aristotle was the first to articulate infinity as a mathematical notion:
Since no sensible magnitude is infinite, it is impossible to exceed every assigned magnitude; for if it were possible there would be something bigger than the heavens.
~ Book III, Physics
"...decimals..."
Another magnificent invention: the Base Ten Numeral System. Developed approximately 875 CE. This time period is also not in antiquity.
It should be noted that the Babylonians had a place-value system as early as the 19th century BCE, but the system was a base 60.
"...algebra..."
The first treatise on algebra was written by Diophantus of Alexandria in the 3rd century CE.
"...trig..."
The invention of trigonometry can be associated with certainty to the studies of astronomy of the geometric school of Alexandria.
However, there were important Indian contributions to trigonometry. The first work containing the table of the sines, which dates from the 4th or 5th century CE, is known by the name of Surya Siddhanta.
"...calculus..."
The beginnings of integration can be recognized in the work of the ancient Greeks (Euclid, Archimedes) in finding areas of curved regions and volumes of curved solids.
The beginnings of differentiation were much later, in the work of the early 17th century on tangents to curves and instantaneous rates of change. The recognition that these two processes are inverses of each other (the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus") and the major initial development of the theory occurred in the late 17th century, mainly in the work of Newton (1642-1727) and Leibniz (1646-1716).
"...metallurgy..."
I am not sure how you can claim that Indian civilization invented metallurgy.
"...chemistry..."
Chemistry is a relatively new field of study. Robert Boyle (1627-1691), was one of the first researchers to have a scientific approach to the atomism of the Ancient Greeks, as an opposition to the four element theory of Aristotle and the Paracelsus theories. His book The Sceptical Chemist opened a new era in the history of Chemistry, where terms like atom or molecule appeared. Boyle is often considered the founder of chemical analysis due to his studies of materials composition.
"The world's oldest university was in India. It was Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The campus accommodated 10,500 students who came from as far as Babylonia, Greece, Syria, Arabia, and China and offered over sixty different courses in various fields, such as science, mathematics, medicine, politics, warfare, astrology, astronomy, music, religion, and philosophy."
The only evidence that such a university existed is found on ethocentric and nationalistic lists with such titles as: "Why India is Great." While a Google search for "oldest world university" resulted in articles describing a university being unearthed in Egypt. The university was found in Alexandria and dates to the 5th century CE.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/05/26/egypt.university.discovery.ap/
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Past my bedtime lol 
