Mathematics is a cumulative discipline, and the past, present and future of mathematics are all closely connected. The historical development of mathematical ideas serves as a background to mathematics, so mathematics must not be dissociated from its history (Giacardi, 2000; Man-Keung, 2000). Heine (2000) claims that without an understanding of the history of mathematics, one cannot understand the motivations for studying mathematics because today’s motivations may not be the same motivations as of those who have studied mathematics before us. The development of mathematics is intimately related to religion, society and politics (Gellert, 2000) and in turn these have influenced past and contemporary perspectives on the philosophy of mathematics (Ernest, 1998). Further, mathematicians throughout history -- influenced by more than a pure pursuit of knowledge -- have decided what problems to study, what mathematical objects to create and what axiomatic systems to adopt