Abstract

In this text we discuss how power, mathematics and cryptography establish dialogues that are considered critical for the present, but which have influence from the past and concerns for the future. We contextualize our reflections from a historical perspective, especially in the Brazilian context, and advance the debates about how cryptography, based on mathematical theories, influenced and dynamized wars. Going a little beyond this historical context, we present some reflections concerning the role of cryptography as a means of data security, one of the main discussions in contemporary society. In this reflection, we point out the position of power that the holders of this knowledge occupy, and that, in the scope of basic school, lacks important discussions for both teachers and students.