Born

Died

Approximately 624 BC, Miletus, Asia Minor. (Now Balat, Turkey)

Approximately 547 BC

a philosopher, a mathematician, geometer, astronomer,

engineer, physicist, statesman, and he was one of the
"Seven Sages" of early Greek history:

Thales of Miletus
Some impression and highlights of his life and work follow:

Thales of Miletus was the first known Greek philosopher, scientist and mathematician.
Some consider him to be the teacher of of Pythagoras, though it may be only that he
advised Pythagoras to travel to Egypt and Chaldea.

From Eudemus of Rhodes (fl ca. 320 B.C) we know that he studied in Egypt and brought
these teachings to Greece. He is unanimously ascribed the introduction of mathematical
and astronomical sciences into Greece.

He is unanimously regarded as having been unusally clever--by general agreement the

first of the Seven Wise Men, a pupil of the Egyptians and the Chaldeans.

None of his writing survives; this makes it is difficult to determine his philosophy and to
be certain about his mathematical discoveries.

There is, of course, the story of his successful speculation in oil presses -- as testament to
his practical business acumen.

It is reported that he predicted an eclipse of the Sun on May 28, 585 BC, startling all of
Ionia.

He is credited with five theorems of elementary geometry.

Thales is credited with the following five theorems of geometry:

1. A circle is bisected by its diameter.
2. Angles at the base of any isosceles triangle are equal.
3. If two straight lines intersect, the opposite angles formed are equal.
4. If one triangle has two angles and one side equal to another triangle, the two triangles are
equal in all respects. (See Congruence)
5. Any angle inscribed in a semicircle is a right angle. This is known as Thales' Theorem.

In addition to being a philosopher he was also a mathematician, geometer,

astronomer, engineer, physicist, statesman, and he was one of the

"Seven Sages" of early Greek history:

1.

Solon of Athens ("Nothing in excess")

2.

Chilon of Sparta ("Know thyself")

3.

Thales of Miletus ("To bring surety brings ruin")

4.

Bias of Priene ("Too many workers spoil the work")

5.

Cleobulus of Lindos ("Moderation is the chief good")

6.

Pittacus of Mitylene ("Know thine oppurtunity")

7. Myson of Chen

the founder of the Ionian school of philosophy in Miletus, and the teacher of
Anaximander. During Thales' time, Miletus was an important Greek metropolis in Asia
Minor, known for scholarship. Several schools were founded in Miletus, attracting
scientists, philosophers, architects and geographers