The first scientist to classify living things into two main groups was Aristotle. He divided organisms into plants and animals based on their ability to move and their way of obtaining nourishment.
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher known for his contributions to various fields such as logic, ethics, metaphysics, and politics. He was a student of Plato and a teacher of Alexander the Great. Aristotle's works have had a profound influence on Western philosophy and he is considered one of the most important thinkers in history.
Ancient astronomers like Ptolemy and Copernicus could not accurately predict the movements of the planets because they were working with models that did not accurately capture the true nature of the solar system. Their geocentric models, which placed the Earth at the center of the universe, were unable to accurately predict the movements of the planets due to their circular orbits and epicycles. It wasn't until Johannes Kepler formulated his laws of planetary motion based on observations by Tycho Brahe that more accurate predictions became possible.
Aristotle made significant contributions to various fields, including philosophy, science, and ethics. He developed the foundations of Western philosophy by categorizing and analyzing different forms of knowledge in his work "Metaphysics" and "Nicomachean Ethics." His scientific observations and writings on biology, physics, and astronomy laid the groundwork for future scientific theories. Aristotle's teachings heavily influenced medieval and Renaissance thought, shaping the intellectual landscape for centuries to come.
[1] The first person to whom posterity gives credit for classifying things was Aristotle, who lived 384-322 B.C. [2] The next person to have the most impact on classification was Carl von Linne aka Carolus Linnaeus, who lived 1707-1778.
Aristotle actually figured out the earth was a sphere, but not too many people believed him. He noticed a curved shadow during a Lunar eclipse, and inferred that it must be the earth casting that shadow. Also, he saw that the tall masts of ships seemed to "sink" as they moved far from shore on a very clear day (there were plenty of clear days back then!). And finally, he noticed that holes dug in the ground at different latitudes on the same day of different years caused different length shadows to be cast by the sun. This is indicative of a curved terrestrial surface rather than a flat one, and by using geometry (another Greek invention,) he was actually able to calculate the earth's circumference to within a couple hundred miles. But Columbus gets all the credit, which is really too bad.
Meteorology as a science began with the advent of modern instruments for weather observation in the 17th century. Early meteorologists like Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley made significant contributions to our understanding of weather patterns and phenomena. The establishment of weather stations, the development of forecasting models, and the adoption of satellites and computer technology further advanced the field of meteorology.