The Landscape of the Science in the History (8)

Leonardo Fibonacci was also known as Leonardo of Pisa. Fibonacci was most famous for the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. Each number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two numbers. The irrational number “Phi”, also known as the golden ratio, can be derived from the Fibonacci sequence.

Perian Omar Khayyam solved cubic equations in an algebraic and geometric manner. Khayyam also examined the so-called “Pascal’s triangle” and irrational numbers. Khayyam designed the Islamic calendar and was not only one of the most famous scientists but also a philosopher and a poet.

Avicenna was a child prodigy of the Middle Ages. He was a doctor, physician, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, theologian, geologist, lawyer, inventor and also wrote poetry. Avicenna led a life made for the movies and wrote two encyclopaedias of medicine on diagnoses, treatments, prevention, hygiene, medicinal plants, surgery, cosmetics and drugs.

Rhases was one of the most famous doctors in the Middle Ages and also head of a hospital in Baghdad with much success in healing. He wrote more than 131 books about diseases and their treatment (including smallpox and measles) as well as two encyclopedias of Medicine. One of Iran’s most famous scientists.

Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi formalized the Arabic numerals 0-9, which he transferred from the Indians. The four basic arithmetic operations (+-×÷), algebra and algorithms all derive from the Latin spelling of his name. One of the first famous astronomers in history. Al-Khwarizmi’s astronomical tables contain movements of the sun, moon and five known planets.

Galen was probably the first sports physician of all time. He viewed body and soul as a whole (the origin of psychoanalysis). He wrote 22 books about the organism, pathology, physiology, treatment and pharmacology.

Claudius Ptolemy was a genius across many disciplines. He wrote extensive works on mathematics and astronomy (his major work: Almagest), geography (definition of latitude), music theory, optics (refraction) and philosophy. One of the most famous scientists of all time.

Hero of Alexandria (also known as Heron of Alexandria) was a mathematician, engineer and inventor. He was expert at putting science into practice. Hero was among the first to build many machines including; vending machines, force / piston pump, windwheel / windmill, music machines, a fountain “Hero’s fountain“. He described a design for a steam turbine called an “aeolipile” or “Hero engine“.

Observed over 1000 stars and recorded them in a catalog and a map of the sky. Hipparchos calculated the length of the sun’s and of the sidereal year as well as the lunar month. He is considered the founder of trigonometry.

Archimedes was a multi-talented genius. He calculated the number pi and founded the current day integral calculus. Archimedes discovered “specific gravity” when a full bath tub overflowed when he stepped into it. “The volume of a body is equal to the amount of water it displaces” – very important when building ships. He invented the “Archimedes screw” to pump water and developed a system for calculating large numbers. Archimedes was also a shipbuilder and designed modern weapons and war techniques including catapults. One of the first most famous scientists of all time.

Aristarchus of Samos calculated the distance from the sun to the moon and their sizes. He was the first to explain the heliocentric system (the earth revolving around the sun) and the sphere of fixed stars. Copernicus later took over his teachings.

Herophilos was the first to perform autopsies on people and animals. In doing so he discovered basic functions of the liver, spleen, intestines, heart, eyes, nerves, brain and bloodstream. Herophilos was also the first to distinguish veins from arteries.

Euclid’s principal work was the “Elements of Geometry” consisting of 13 books. Among other topics, it deals with formulas, triangles, parallelograms, spheres, cones, circular gauges and many other mathematical theorems like the parallels axiom “the sum of the angles in a triangle is always 180°“.

Theophrastos was the father of botany and student of Aristotle. He wrote around 400 books. Theophrastos examined many hundreds of plants in detail, explored their origins and examined their medical properties. Two important botanical works are Enquiry into Plants (Historia Plantarum) and “On the Causes of Plants“.

Aristotle defined the method of exact research. His writings have inspired scientists for millennia. He founded the first university in Athens, was a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. Aristotle is considered the father of zoology, and wrote widely on topics such as reproduction and heredity transmission. One of the first famous scientists of all time.

Eudoxus was the creator of the doctrine of ratio equations and volume calculations for circles, spheres, cones and pyramids. Physician and teacher of Menaechmus (380-320 BC), who discovered the ellipse, parabola and hyperbola.

Hippocrates is widely considered the father of western medicine. He looked for the causes of disease in lifestyle and diet rather than as punishment by the gods. He was effectively the first general practitioner, surgeon and dietician. Even today, doctors still swear the “Hippocratic Oath“. He used the first medications to be won from nature for healing purposes.

Empedocles was the founder of the four-element doctrine. The four elements (fire, air, water, earth) make everything in the world. Empedocles described the flow of blood to and from the heart and recognized that skin can breathe.

Anaxagoras was an all-rounder. He founded meteorology, found the causes of wind, clouds, thunder and lightning, moon phases and eclipses. Anaxagoras also conducted experiments on the body, the brain and more.

Pythagoras was a notable philosopher (pre-Socratic) and famous mathematician, astronomer and scientist. Pythagoras founded a school called “The Semicircle of Pythagoras” which blended science and religion. It’s thought discoveries made by members were attributed to Pythagoras, possibly even Pythagoras’ Theorem. Pythagoras is one of the most famous scientists of the late archaic period in Greece.