Ramsey theory before ramsey, prehistory and early history: An essay in 13 parts

Abstract

How does a new theory emerge? It usually manifests itself in the older and established areas of mathematics. Gradually a critical mass of results appears, prompting a realization that what we have is a new identifiable field of mathematical thought, with its own set of problems and methods. As a fetus in a womb, the new theory eventually does not fit in the existing classification of mathematical thought. That is when the child is born. Ramsey theory has not been an exception.