ABSTRACT
Eudemus of Rhodes' history of the exact sciences has to be considered against the background of other historical genres that were initiated or cultivated in the Lyceum. The subject of Eudemus' works was the development of the exact sciences from their origin to the second third of the fourth century. The last mathematicians he refers to in the History of geometry are Eudoxus' students. Simplicius twice notes the laconic and clear style of his History of astronomy and in quoting a long passage from the History of geometry he refers again to Eudemus' memorandum-like style. The idea of the progressive growth of mathematical knowledge predates Eudemus, of course. In the Protrepticus Aristotle refers to significant progress being achieved in mathematics in a very short time. Eudemus' other possible source was the book On the ancient poets and musicians by Glaucus of Rhegium, a contemporary of Democritus.
