The first known mathematician by name was Thales of Miletus (c. 624-546 BC), a Greek philosopher-mathematician, though anonymous mathematicians existed earlier in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Early Mathematics:
Ancient Civilizations:
- Mesopotamia (c. 3000 BC): Anonymous scribes developed arithmetic and geometry
- Egypt (c. 3000 BC): Mathematical papyri show advanced calculations
- Indus Valley (c. 2600 BC): Evidence of standardized measurements
Named Mathematicians:
- Thales of Miletus (624-546 BC): First named mathematician, geometry theorems
- Pythagoras (570-495 BC): Famous theorem, mathematical philosophy
- Euclid (300 BC): Systematized geometry
Why Thales?
- First to use deductive reasoning in mathematics
- Proved geometric theorems
- Predicted solar eclipse using mathematics
- Established mathematics as abstract reasoning