Ivan Vreman

It also presents his interests and contributions in the broader context of research and scientific conditions and opportunities at the very beginning of the 17th century.

In 1609 he left Rome for Portugal and Spain, intending to go to the Far East, but had to wait for the departure of a ship that had been preparing for that long voyage.

While waiting, he worked until 1615 as a professor of mathematics in Lisbon and at the Colegio de los Jesuitas in the city of Oropesa in Spain.

The only known work that has been preserved from that period is his mathematical manuscript Geometriae speculatiuae compendium (Handbook of Speculative Geometry).

Besides, Vreman's special interest was astronomy, where he needed mathematical knowledge in theoretical and practical work and the Euclidean methodology for conducting astronomical proofs.

According to his observations, he determined the differences between Asian and European time and defined the positions of towns like Goa, Macau and others as well.

At that time, he translated into Italian and Latin the reports of Portuguese missionaries in Catholic missions in Japan.

In China he lived and worked in difficult conditions, like many other missionaries in the Far East, fell ill, gradually became very exhausted and skinny, and finally died on 22 April 1620 in Nanchang, at the age of thirty six.