STS L5

Thales of Miletus

624-546 BC

Thales of Miletus

“The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.”

Thales of Miletus

In the 7th Century he was dubbed “The Father of Science.”

Thales of Miletus

He was the first to posit non-supernatural explanations forearthquakes, lightnings, etc.

Thales of Miletus

He predicted solar eclipses, droughts and made a fortune doing so.

Anaximander

610-546

Anaximander

“The source from which existing thing derive their existence is also that to which they return at their destruction”

Anaximander

Believed that life came from water and mud.

Anaximander

He proposed that humans evolved from lower life forms. (This speculation was later vindicated by Charles Darwin, 2400 years later.)

Empedocles

490-430

Empedocles

There are forces in nature called Love and Hate. The force of Love causes elements to be attracted to each other and to be built up into some particular form or person and the force of Hate causes the decomposition of things.

Empedocles

Discovered air using a straw and a glass of water.

Democritus

460-370 BC

Democritus

Nothing exists except atoms and empty space, everything else is opinion.

Democritus

First to theorize that matter is made up of “atoms.” (literally means ‘uncut-able’ in Greek) 

Eratosthenes

276-194 BC

Eratosthenes

Accurately measured the size / circumference of the earth using 2 sticks.

Eratosthenes

He created the first map of the world

Pythagoras

570-495

Pythagoras

“A fool is known by his speech and a wise man by silence.”

Pythagoras

Started a school dedicated to Mathematics and its application to nature.

Pythagoras

Pythagorean Theory

Heraclitus

“Big results require big ambitions.”

Heraclitus

Moon and sun were bowls of fire

Heraclitus

The rotation of the moon’s bowl resulted in phases and eclipses

Parmenides

Explained the origin of the moon’s light

Parmenides

Heliophatism- the moon’s light originates from the sun

Parmenides

The morning star is the evening star

Parmenides

The earth is spherical

Hippocrates

“Father of Modern Medicine”

Hippocrates

Believed that medicine should be based on natural sciences geared towards diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases

Hippocrates

He developed the basics of clinical medicine

Galen

“Father of Systematic Medicine”

Galen

Performed dissection on animals

Galen

The first physician to consider pulse in identifying the occurrence of illness