Since Copernicus' theories ended the old era of scientific understanding as much as began the new scientific revolution, it is fitting to include him with the ancient thinkers. 624-547 B.C. Thales of Miletus postulates that water is the basic substance of the Earth. He also was acquainted with the attractive power of magnets and rubbed amber. 580-500 B.C. Pythagoras held that the Earth was spherical. He sought a mathematical understanding of the universe.
All matter is made of indivisible particles called atoms .
384-322 B.C. Aristotle formalized the gathering of scientific knowledge. While it is difficult to point to one particular theory, the total result of his compilation of knowledge was to provide the fundamental basis of science for a thousand years. B.C. Aristarchus describes a cosmology identical to that proposed by Copernicus 2,000 years later. However, given the great prestige of Aristotle, Aristarchus' heliocentric model was rejected in favor of the geocentric model. 287-212 B.C. Archimedes was a great pioneer in theoretical physics.