ICM'98
The Berlin-Goettingen Rivalry, 1870-1920
By David Rowe
By mid 19th century, Berlin and Goettingen had emerged as the two
dominant mathematical centres within Germany. During the era of
Weierstrass and Riemann, relations between the two centres were
cordial, but by 1870 the situation began to change. Berlin maintained
the upperhand up until the death of Kronecker (1891) and Weierstrass's
retirement (1892), but thereafter Felix Klein forged an aggressive
effort that placed the Berlin mathematicians, led by Frobenius and
Schwarz, in a defensive position. These events, including several key
turning points in the conflict, shed light on the process of
modernization within the German mathematical community.
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Last modified: June 19, 1998