Mathematics and life: lessons from history

Developments in mathematics, technology, science, culture and society are closely interwoven with each other. Beyond that, these interrelations tend to be very complex due to the multiplicity of factors involved. In this contribution, three examples from the human story are analysed in order to sensitize for possible characteristics of the interrelation. For the historical cases of early Mesopotamia, the Inca state and Renaissance Italy, it is demonstrated how specific socio-cultural conditions affect the development of mathematics and technology as well as their use. These findings lead to questions about our use of mathematics and the ways in which mathematics, society, technology, culture and science may be linked, today.