Page 216 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

206 History and Science of Knots

bounds (sometimes in quite unexpected directions) along a multidisciplinary
front. This causes it to have a sparkling history, involving a wide diversity of
ideas, methods and applications, and linked with the names of many famous
mathematicians and scientists.

1680 Leibniz
1800 GAUSS
1845 LISTING
1875 TAIT & Co
1895 Poincare
DEHN
TIETZE

ARTIN

1926 ALEXANDER

1935 Seifert REIDEMEISTER MARKOY

1960 Haken FOX MAKANIN - GARSIDE
CONWAY
1975 BIRMAN
ROLFSEN

HILDEN

1984 Thurston JONES

HOMFLY - KAUFFMAN
1^0 WITTEN-TURAEV-RESHETIKHIN

Fig. 1. A Chronology of Topological Knot Theory
From primitive man to present-day scientist, rudimentary knot theory can
be traced from the construction of knots and braids for decorative purposes to,
what once was held to be, a rather esoteric and deceptively tranquil branch of
pure mathematics. However that is a misleading image. From its inception as