| Geocentric Model |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
Earth is the center of the universe with celestial bodies orbiting it. |
On the Heavens |
4th Century BC |
| Plato's Theory of Forms |
Ancient Greek |
Plato |
Non-material abstract forms represent the most accurate reality. |
The Republic |
4th Century BC |
| Atomism |
Ancient Greek |
Democritus |
Everything is composed of atoms, which are indivisible particles. |
Fragments of Atomism |
5th Century BC |
| Humoral Theory |
Ancient Greek |
Hippocrates |
Health is governed by four humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile. |
Hippocratic Corpus |
5th Century BC |
| Opium Poppy Theory |
Ancient Sumerian |
Unknown |
Use of opium poppy for medicinal purposes. |
Sumerian Texts |
3rd Millennium BC |
| Four Elements Theory |
Ancient Greek |
Empedocles |
Everything is composed of earth, water, air, and fire. |
On Nature |
5th Century BC |
| Pliny's Natural History |
Roman |
Pliny the Elder |
Comprehensive work on the natural world and its phenomena. |
Natural History |
1st Century AD |
| Induction and Deduction |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
Two methods of reasoning in philosophy and science. |
Posterior Analytics |
4th Century BC |
| Stoicism |
Ancient Greek |
Zeno of Citium |
Emphasizes rationality and self-control as a way to align with the universe. |
Meditations |
3rd Century BC |
| Epicureanism |
Ancient Greek |
Epicurus |
Pleasure as the highest good; fear of death is irrational. |
Letter to Menoeceus |
4th Century BC |
| Platonic Solids |
Ancient Greek |
Plato |
Five geometric shapes form the basis of all matter. |
Timaeus |
4th Century BC |
| The Allegory of the Cave |
Ancient Greek |
Plato |
Metaphor for human ignorance regarding reality. |
The Republic |
4th Century BC |
| Natural Philosophy |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
Study of nature as a way to understand reality and existence. |
Physics |
4th Century BC |
| Social Contract Theory |
Ancient Greek |
Plato |
The idea that individuals come together to form a society and government. |
The Republic |
4th Century BC |
| Zeno's Paradoxes |
Ancient Greek |
Zeno of Elea |
Philosophical arguments challenging motion and plurality. |
Paradoxes |
5th Century BC |
| Fibonacci Sequence |
Ancient Indian |
Pingala |
Mathematical sequence describing natural growth patterns. |
Chandahsutra |
circa 400 BC |
| Music of the Spheres |
Ancient Greek |
Pythagoras |
Concept that celestial bodies produce a form of music with their movement. |
Tetractys |
6th Century BC |
| Sybil's Prophecies |
Ancient Roman |
Sibyls |
Predictions made by prophetesses in ancient Rome. |
Sibylline Books |
6th Century BC |
| Alchemy |
Ancient Egyptian |
Hermes Trismegistus |
The art of transformation of base metals into noble metals; pursuit of immortality. |
Emerald Tablet |
circa 300 BC |
| Aristotelian Physics |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
Explanation of motion, force, and the physical world based on observation. |
Physics |
4th Century BC |
| The Golden Mean |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
Describes moderation as the best course of action. |
Nicomachean Ethics |
4th Century BC |
| Socratic Method |
Ancient Greek |
Socrates |
A form of cooperative argumentative dialogue stimulating critical thinking. |
Plato's Dialogues |
5th Century BC |
| Intention in Ethics |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
Moral actions depend on the intention behind them, not just the action itself. |
Nicomachean Ethics |
4th Century BC |
| Platonic Love |
Ancient Greek |
Plato |
A type of love that transcends physical attraction and seeks the beauty of the soul. |
Symposium |
4th Century BC |
| Karma |
Ancient Indian |
Hinduism/Buddhism |
Belief that actions in this life will determine fate in future lives. |
Various Texts |
circa 5th Century BC |
| Yoga Philosophy |
Ancient Indian |
Patanjali |
Discipline of mind and body for spiritual growth. |
Yoga Sutras |
circa 200 BC |
| Buddha's Eightfold Path |
Ancient Indian |
Buddha |
Path to enlightenment through right understanding and conduct. |
Dhammapada |
5th Century BC |
| Philosophy of Dao |
Ancient Chinese |
Laozi |
The way of nature and the universe, emphasizing harmony and simplicity. |
Tao Te Ching |
6th Century BC |
| Five Elements Theory |
Ancient Chinese |
Zhuangzi |
Elements wood, fire, earth, metal, water represent all phenomena. |
Zhuangzi |
4th Century BC |
| Chinese Medicine Theory |
Ancient Chinese |
Various |
Health and disease result from balance between Yin and Yang. |
Huangdi Neijing |
circa 200 BC |
| Totemism |
Ancient Indigenous |
Various |
Spiritual connection between humans and animal or plant totems. |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
| Animism |
Ancient Indigenous |
Various |
Belief that objects, places, and creatures possess spiritual essence. |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
| Cyclic Time |
Ancient Indian |
Hinduism |
Time is cyclical and infinitely repeatable through the concept of Yugas. |
Vedic Texts |
circa 1500 BC |
| Pythagoreanism |
Ancient Greek |
Pythagoras |
Philosophy that numbers and their relationships form the essence of reality. |
Golden Verses |
6th Century BC |
| Chaos Theory |
Ancient Greek |
Heraclitus |
Change is the only constant; everything is in a state of flux. |
Fragments |
6th Century BC |
| Divination |
Various Ancient Cultures |
Various,Practice of seeking knowledge of the future or unknown through supernatural means." |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
NaN |
| Hero's Journey |
Ancient Mythology |
Joseph Campbell |
A common storytelling pattern found in myths and legends across cultures. |
The Hero with a Thousand Faces |
1949 |
| Mensuration in Architecture |
Ancient Egyptian |
Imhotep |
Mathematical principles applied to construction and measurements in building. |
Pyramids and Sculptures |
circa 2600 BC |
| Doctrine of Signatures |
Ancient Medicine |
Various |
Plants that resemble body parts can heal those parts. |
Various |
9th Century AD |
| Naturalism |
Ancient Greek |
Democritus |
Things can be explained by laws of nature without supernatural elements. |
Fragments of Atomism |
5th Century BC |
| Heroic Epic Poetry |
Ancient Greek |
Homer |
Narrative poetry recounting the deeds of heroic figures, linking humans to the divine. |
The Iliad, The Odyssey |
8th Century BC |
| Divine Right of Kings |
Ancient Cultures |
Various |
The belief that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects. |
Various |
Medieval Period |
| Rhetoric |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
The art of persuasion through eloquence and argumentation. |
Rhetoric |
4th Century BC |
| Empiricism |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
Knowledge comes from sensory experience and empirical evidence. |
Posterior Analytics |
4th Century BC |
| Materialism |
Ancient Greek |
Democritus |
Only material things exist; everything can be reduced to matter and movements thereof. |
Fragments of Atomism |
5th Century BC |
| Universal Law |
Ancient Roman |
Cicero |
Natural law applies to all human beings universally and is derived from reason. |
De Republica |
1st Century BC |
| Ethics of Reciprocity |
Various Cultures |
Various |
Treat others as you wish to be treated; often called the Golden Rule. |
Various |
Ancient times |
| Zoroastrian Cosmology |
Ancient Persian |
Zoroaster |
The struggle between Ahura Mazda (light) and Angra Mainyu (darkness). |
Avesta |
circa 6th Century BC |
| Geography as a Science |
Ancient Greek |
Eratosthenes |
Measured the Earth's circumference and laid foundations for geographic studies. |
Geographica |
3rd Century BC |
| Alien Spheres Theory |
Ancient Greek |
Ptolemy |
Celestial spheres surrounding Earth explain planetary movements. |
Almagest |
2nd Century AD |
| Western Astrology |
Mesopotamian |
Babylonians |
The positions of celestial bodies influence human affairs and natural phenomena. |
Astrological Texts |
1st Millennium BC |
| Empedocles' Theory of Roots |
Ancient Greek |
Empedocles |
Four roots (elements) combine in various ways to create the physical world. |
On Nature |
5th Century BC |
| Chariot of the Sun |
Ancient Greek |
Phaethon (Mythology) |
A myth explaining celestial phenomena in terms of divine mythology. |
Various Sources |
Ancient Greece |
| Kybalion Principles |
Ancient Hermetic |
Hermetic Tradition |
Seven principles that explain the nature of reality and the universe. |
The Kybalion |
1908 |
| Greek Tragedy |
Ancient Greek |
Aeschylus, Sophocles |
A genre that explores moral and existential dilemmas through dramatic narratives. |
Oedipus Rex |
5th Century BC |
| Chakra System |
Ancient Indian |
Hinduism |
Energy centers in the body that affect spiritual and physical health. |
Vedic Texts |
circa 1500 BC |
| Socratic Paradoxes |
Ancient Greek |
Socrates |
Philosophical assertions that challenge conventional wisdom. |
Plato's Dialogues |
5th Century BC |
| Punic Wars Strategy |
Ancient Roman |
Hannibal |
Military strategies employed during the wars between Rome and Carthage. |
Various Reports |
3rd Century BC |
| City-State Governance |
Ancient Greek |
Various |
The political system governing city-states with autonomy and sovereignty. |
Various |
8th Century BC |
| Myth of Sisyphus |
Ancient Greek |
Albert Camus |
Philosophical explanation of human struggle and existentialism. |
The Myth of Sisyphus |
1942 |
| Philosophy of Language |
Ancient Greek |
Heraclitus |
Fundamental doctrine examining the relationship between language and reality. |
Fragments |
6th Century BC |
| Rays of Light Theory |
Ancient Greek |
Euclid |
Mathematical study of light and its properties including reflection and refraction. |
Optics |
3rd Century BC |
| Mummification Philosophy |
Ancient Egyptian |
Ancient Egyptians |
Belief in preserving the body for the afterlife. |
Book of the Dead |
3rd Millennium BC |
| Cosmic Egg Theory |
Various Cultures |
Various |
The idea that the universe emerged from a primordial egg. |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
| Baba Yaga Stories |
Eastern European Folklore |
Slavic Mythology |
Folktales surrounding the witch figure that embodies wisdom and danger. |
Various Sources |
18th Century |
| Mesopotamian Flood Myth |
Ancient Mesopotamia |
Various |
The story of a great flood, similar to the Noah's Ark narrative. |
Epic of Gilgamesh |
circa 2100 BC |
| Dyarchy in Governance |
Ancient Roman |
Various |
Rule by two, seen in various Roman political structures. |
Various Sources |
1st Century BC |
| Aurelian's Monarchic Theory |
Ancient Roman |
Aurelian |
Centralizing power under a singular ruler during crises. |
Various Sources |
3rd Century AD |
| Pythagorean Triangle Theorem |
Ancient Greek |
Pythagoras |
Mathematical principle stating the relationship between the sides of a right triangle. |
Elements |
circa 580 BC |
| Essence vs Existence |
Ancient Greek |
Jean-Paul Sartre |
The existentialist claim that existence precedes essence; a fundamental choice for individuals. |
Existentialism |
20th Century |
| Parallax in Astronomy |
Ancient Greek |
Aristarchus |
The concept of measuring the distance from Earth to celestial bodies using angles. |
On the Sizes and Distances of the Sun and Moon |
3rd Century BC |
| Gravitational Attraction |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
The idea that objects fall due to a natural tendency towards the center of Earth. |
Physics |
4th Century BC |
| Teleportation in Suddenness |
Ancient Indian |
Various |
Mythical concepts involving instant travel through space and dimensions. |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
| Numerology |
Ancient Cultures |
Various |
The belief in mystical significance of numbers and their influence on personality and fate. |
Various |
Ancient times |
| Trial by Ordeal |
Ancient Cultures |
Various |
Judicial system where the accused is subjected to painful tests to prove innocence. |
Various |
Medieval Period |
| The Duality of Matter |
Ancient Greek |
Democritus |
The idea that matter has dual properties of waves and particles. |
Fragments of Atomism |
5th Century BC |
| Celestial Navigation |
Ancient Maritime Cultures |
Various |
Navigating by observing stars and celestial bodies. |
Various |
Ancient times |
| Symbolism in Religion |
Various Cultures |
Various |
Use of symbols to convey spiritual truths and religious beliefs. |
Various |
Ancient times |
| Myth of Creation |
Various Cultures |
Various |
Stories and teachings about the origin of the universe. |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
| Mixtures and Compounds |
Ancient Alchemy |
Alchemists |
The belief that various substances can be combined to create new materials. |
Alchemical Texts |
Medieval Period |
| Ancient Trade Routes |
Various Cultures |
Various |
Pathways established for trade that connected various ancient civilizations. |
Various |
Ancient Times |
| Ceren archaeological site |
Ancient Maya |
Maya Civilization |
Preserved ancient site that sheds light on Maya culture and history. |
Various Excavations |
circa 600 AD |
| Virgil's Aeneid |
Ancient Roman |
Virgil |
Epic poem chronicling the founding of Rome and its divine ancestry. |
The Aeneid |
1st Century BC |
| Epic of Gilgamesh |
Ancient Mesopotamia |
Unknown |
One of the oldest known literary works about a hero's journey. |
Epic of Gilgamesh |
circa 2100 BC |
| Sumerian Writing System |
Ancient Sumerian |
Sumerians |
One of the earliest known writing systems, cuneiform. |
Clay Tablets |
circa 3500 BC |
| Eye for Eye Law |
Ancient Mesopotamia |
Babylonian |
Legal principle establishing proportionality of punishment. |
Code of Hammurabi |
circa 1754 BC |
| Existence of the Soul |
Various Cultures |
Various |
The belief that there exists a non-physical essence in beings. |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
| Chaldean Numerology |
Ancient Chaldean |
Chaldeans |
Belief in the mystical significance of numbers in divination and magic. |
Various |
Ancient times |
| All-encompassing Nature of God |
Ancient Egyptian |
Various |
Concept of a singular, all-powerful deity that transcends the cosmos. |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
| Seasonality in Agriculture |
Ancient Cultures |
Various |
Understanding the influence of seasons on agricultural practices. |
Various |
Ancient times |
| Philosophy of Aesthetics |
Ancient Greek |
Various |
Study of beauty, art, and sensory experiences. |
Various |
Ancient times |
| Sumerian Cosmology |
Ancient Sumerian |
Sumerians |
Understanding of the universe that combines mythology and astronomy. |
Various |
3rd Millennium BC |
| Quintessence |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
The fifth element, aether, that fills the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere. |
On Generation and Corruption |
4th Century BC |
| Knot Theory |
Ancient Cultures |
Various |
Mathematical principles discussing the properties of knots and their representations. |
Various |
Prehistoric times |
| Rulers in Ancient Egypt |
Ancient Egyptian |
Various |
Theocratic governance-system based on divine kingship and leadership. |
Various |
3000 BC onward |
| Constitution of Athens |
Ancient Greek |
Aristotle |
Discussion of the constitution and governance in ancient Athens. |
Athenian Constitution |
4th Century BC |
| The Hero Cult |
Ancient Greek |
Various |
Cultural practices surrounding the veneration of heroic figures. |
Various |
Ancient Greek Times |
| Socratic Paradox of Ignorance |
Ancient Greek |
Socrates |
Understanding that true wisdom is knowing one's ignorance. |
Plato's Dialogues |
5th Century BC |
| Mandala in Spirituality |
Ancient Indian |
Hinduism/Buddhism |
Symbolic diagram used for meditation and ritual. |
NaN |
NaN |
| Various |
Ancient times |
NaN |
NaN |
NaN |
NaN |