"Rigor and Proof in Mathematics: A Historical Perspective" by Israel Kleiner. Mathematics Magazine December 1991, 64:291-314.

This paper gives a very nice overview of how the understanding of rigor in mathematics has evolved from the early ages to the 20th century. 

[http://www.jstor.org/sici?sici=0025-570X%28199112%2964%3A5%3C291%3ARAPIMA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Z][1]


  [1]: http://www.jstor.org/sici?sici=0025-570X%2528199112%252964%253A5%253C291%253ARAPIMA%253E2.0.CO%253B2-Z