THE ROLE OF PROJECTIVE GEOMETRY IN ITALIAN EDUCATION AND INSTITUTIONS AT THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY

At the end of the 19th century, projective geometry was at the basis of most geometric research in Italy, and of many other research work in Europe. Furthermore, through its close connection with descriptive geometry, it seemed adapted to respond to social and educational needs. In Italy, a reform of the Technical Institutes brought projective geometry into the syllabuses; and Cremona's book Elementi di geometria projettiva helped to spread the synthetic method in Italy and in Europe. In this paper we will examine the link between projective geometry and education, from the personal point of view of Luigi Cremona, and from the institutional point of view of technical instruction in schools and universities. Information about the reception of Cremona's book in Europe and some letters from Cremona's estate will help us in understanding the scientific climate of that period.