Why did Thales do?

Thales of Miletus, an ancient Greek philosopher, is often regarded as one of the first philosophers in Western history. He is best known for his belief that water is the fundamental substance of all things, which marked a shift from mythological explanations of the world to rational, naturalistic thinking. Thales also made significant contributions to geometry and astronomy, being credited with various geometric theorems and predicting a solar eclipse. His work laid the groundwork for future scientific inquiry and philosophical thought.