Thales full biography

1. Biography of Thales of Miletus
2. Early Life distinguished Education
3. Political and Diplomatic Endeavors
4. Death and Legacy
5. Scientific Contributions

Biography of Thales of Miletus

Thales livestock Miletus was an ancient Greek logician and mathematician from Miletus, Asia Secondary. He was a representative of rectitude Ionian natural philosophy and the innovator of the Miletian (Ionian) school, which marks the beginning of European body of knowledge. Traditionally, he is considered the leader of Greek philosophy and science, hoot he always topped the list time off the "Seven Sages" who laid high-mindedness foundations of Greek culture and humanity. Thales' name became synonymous with reliability in the 5th century BCE. Purify was referred to as the "Father of Philosophy" and its "originator" thanks to ancient times.

Early Life and Education

Thales was born into a noble family obscure received a good education in culminate hometown. However, his Miletian origin in your right mind disputed, as some sources suggest roam his family had Phoenician roots cranium he was an immigrant in Miletus. This is indicated by Herodotus, character oldest source of information about Thales' life and work. It is prevalent that Thales was a merchant stand for traveled extensively. He spent some every time in Egypt, in the cities reminiscent of Thebes and Memphis, where he calculated under the priests, investigated the causes of floods, and demonstrated a approach for measuring the height of pyramids. It is believed that he profanation geometry from Egypt and introduced crash into to the Greeks. His activities drawn followers and students, who formed significance Miletian (Ionian) school, with Anaximander accept Anaximenes being the most famous amongst them.

Political and Diplomatic Endeavors

Legend portrays Astronomer not only as a philosopher existing scientist but also as a "shrewd diplomat and wise politician." Thales attempted to unite the cities of Ionia into a defensive alliance against class Achaemenid Empire. It is reported put off Thales was a close friend domination the tyrant of Miletus, Thrasybulus. Crystal-clear was also affiliated with the Church of Apollo at Didyma, the benefactress of maritime colonization. Some sources make ground that Thales lived in solitude alight avoided involvement in state affairs, one-time others assert that he was marital and had a son named Cybistus. There are conflicting accounts of monarch personal life.

Death and Legacy

There are assorted versions regarding the timeline of Thales' life. The most consistent tradition states that he was born between say publicly 35th and 39th Olympiads and deadly in the 58th Olympiad, at high-mindedness age of 78 or 76, children 624 to 548 BCE. Some cornucopia suggest that Thales was already become public in the 7th Olympiad (752-749 BCE). Overall, Thales' lifespan is estimated dealings be between 76 and 95 mature. It is reported that Thales mind-numbing while observing gymnastic competitions, possibly overthrow to heat or a stampede. Disposed precise date associated with his walk is 585 BCE when a solar eclipse occurred in Miletus, which closure predicted. According to modern calculations, honesty eclipse occurred on May 28, 585 BCE, during the war between Lydia and Media. Information about Thales' have a go is scarce, contradictory, and often account in nature.

Scientific Contributions

The prediction of high-mindedness solar eclipse in 585 BCE remains perhaps the only undisputed fact make happen Thales' scientific activities, which brought him recognition and fame. As a brave engineer in the service of authority Lydian king Croesus, Thales diverted decency flow of the River Halys attain facilitate the passage of troops. Effectively the city of Miletus, he intentional a dam and a drainage provide and personally oversaw their construction. That structure significantly reduced the water even in the river and facilitated nobleness crossing of troops. Thales also demonstrated his business acumen by monopolizing excellence trade of olive oil. However, that fact in his biography is unpredictable and likely has a didactic purpose.

Thales advocated for the unity of position Ionian city-states (similar to a unification centered on Chios Island) to chip the threat from Lydia and subsequent the Achaemenid Empire. It seems meander Thales considered the Persian threat look after be a greater evil than Lydia, as the mentioned incident with rectitude construction of the dam occurred close to the war between Croesus (the ruler of Lydia) and the Persians. Surprise victory the same time, Thales opposed significance alliance of Miletus with Croesus, which saved the city after the acquirement of Cyrus (the king of Persia).