Here’s a brief introduction to some of 500 BC’s great thinkers. They include the “fathers” of modern science, numbers, medicine, history, natural philosophy and thespians, to name a few…
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The bead and rod abacus was invented in Egypt in about 500BC, a modification of the original invented in 3000 BC by the Chinese or Babylonians. This is abacus that we still use.
According to legend, Cadmus of Miletus invented the Greek alphabet in 550 BC. Its creation predated the Roman alphabet by some 600 years.
In 500 BC, the Greeks started the very first library, and started using papyrus rolls and early parchments made of dried reeds - first portable and light writing surfaces.
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Confucius, 551-479 BC, began work as a teacher at age 22. His teachings are recorded in the Lunyu or Analects. His tradition focuses on the role of humanity in the greater scheme of things, stressing the importance of responsibility to family, livelihood, and the betterment of society.
Lao Tzu (“Old Master”) 604-? BC, founder of Taoism. His classic work, the Tao-te-Ching (Book of the Right Way) introduced the ancient Chinese system of divination, or I Ching (Book of Changes). The yin-yang symbol, representing unity and duality, is inherent to his basic teachings.
The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) 500-420 BC. After becoming enlightened under a Bodhi-tree (Sacred Fig), the Buddha taught that the ultimate truths are within reach of any person willing to pay attention. He advised to live a meaningful life without regrets, be all you can be, and do for others without hoping for reward.
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Anaximander of Miletus (611- 547 BC), is a Greek philosopher credited with inventing the gnomon (vertical pointer) on the sundial and with drawing the first map of the world, and may have drawn a map of the universe.
Democritus and Leucippus of Abdera (480 - 420 BC) are credited with developing the atomist theory, that all matter is made up of indivisible particles. (Atom means 'not cut'.) Many consider Democritus to be the "father of modern science."
Pythagoras (572—490 BC), the “father of numbers.” He believed that numbers constituted the true nature of things. While best known for his Theorem, he called himself a philosopher and ran a school for mystics and mathematicians in Italy that included women, unheard of in his time.
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Aristophanes (448-385 BC) is the only representative of Old Comedy whose work we have in complete form. Aristophanes wrote political satire and his humor is often coarse. His sex-strike and anti-war comedy, Lysistrata, continues to be performed today in connection with war protests.
Thespis of Icaria (500 BC) is the first known actor in written plays and is regarded as the inventor of tragedy. In reverence to Thespis, actors throughout western history have been referred to as thespians (International Thespian Society).
Aeschylus (525-456 BC), first great tragic poet. Innovated performance of violent acts offstage.
Sophocles (496-406 BC), second great tragic poet. Remembered for his tragedies about Oedipus.
Euripides (484-407BC), third great tragic poet. He added intrigue and love-drama to Greek tragedy. -
Thales (620 - 546 BC), was a Greek philosopher who predicted a solar eclipse and was one of the 7ancient Sages. Aristotle considered Thales the founder of natural philosophy. He started the field of Greek astronomy and may have introduced geometry into Greece from Egypt.
Plato (c. 429–347 BC), one of the most famous philosophers of all time. A type of love (Platonic) is named for him. He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle. He founded the Academy in Athens. Plato is perhaps best known to college students for his parable of a cave, which appears in Plato's Republic.
Socrates, 469-399 BC, is known for the pursuit of knowledge. He is famous for saying that “ the unexamined life is not worth living.” He is also well known for stirring up sufficient controversy to be sentenced to death, carried out by drinking a cup of hemlock. His students, included Plato.
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Hippocrates of Cos, the father of western medicine (460-377 BC), trained medical students that there are scientific reasons for ailments. Treatments included herbal as well as diet, hygiene, and sleep. Today doctors take a Hippocratic Oath pertaining to the ethical practice of medicine.
Thucydides (460-395 BC), the father of "scientific history" due to his strict standards of evidence-gathering and analysis. He has also been called the father of the school of political realism. His classical text is still studied at advanced military colleges worldwide.
Herodotus (484-425 BC), father of history. His Histories reads like a travelogue. He traveled most of the known world, including Scythia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, North Africa and Gaul. He explored the origins of the conflict between Persia and Greece based on mythological prehistory.
