Practical mathematics in a commercial metropolis

Set against the backdrop of the Religious Wars, this narrative explores the rise and fall of mathematics in sixteenth-century Antwerp through the lives of Michiel Coignet and Peeter Heyns. It delves into various facets of practical mathematics, including teaching, instrument making, fortification construction, and navigation. The story highlights how these mathematical practices were intertwined with the turbulent historical context, ultimately leading to their decline.