- Algebra has its origins in ancient civilizations like Egypt and Babylon where it was used to solve basic arithmetic problems involving unknown variables.
- It progressed through the rhetorical, syncopated, and symbolic stages of algebraic notation.
- Various civilizations made contributions - Greeks/Diophantus established foundations, Arabs adopted and improved Hindu numerals and methods, Europeans developed modern symbolic algebra in 16th century.
- Key figures like al-Khwarizmi and Fibonacci advanced the subject in the medieval era.