This sentence was probably located after a different sentence in a paragraph. For example the sentence before would be something like:

Algebra is a very complex and complicated form of math. As with other branches of mathematics it has grown beyond the circumstances of its birth.

Then in this case the as is means "the same thing applies to ......".

Hope this helps you.

[The "as with"] was probably located after a different sentence in a paragraph. For example the sentence before would be something like:

Algebra is a very complex and complicated form of math. As with other branches of mathematics it has grown beyond the circumstances of its birth.

Then in this case the "as with" means "the same thing applies to ......".