Before the 19th century the idea of more than three dimensions was exceptional. During the 19th century, however, geometry was revolutionized and new branches were developed. This revolution also created the idea of the possibility of a n-dimensional geometry or space; flatland, i.e. n = 2, was a consequence of this new thinking. In 1884 the clergyman Edwin Abbott and the mathematician Charles Hinton published their still-famous flatland stories. In the 20th century authors also included modern physics as well as computer science in flatland stories.