History of Thales
Thales of Miletus (c. 624–546 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer, often regarded as one of the first thinkers to introduce rational explanations for natural phenomena instead of attributing them to mythology. Born in the city of Miletus in Ionia (modern-day Turkey), he was one of the Seven Sages of Greece and made significant contributions to geometry, astronomy, and philosophy. Thales is best known for his belief that water is the fundamental substance of all things, an early form of material monism.
In addition to his philosophical ideas, Thales made advancements in geometry, including the famous 'Thales' Theorem,' which states that a triangle inscribed in a semicircle is always a right triangle. He is also credited with predicting a solar eclipse in 585 BCE and improving navigation techniques by using the Little Bear constellation. His work laid the foundation for later Greek philosophers such as Anaximander and Pythagoras, influencing the development of Western science and philosophy.