Democritus

(470 - 380 BC)

Democritus was a Greek philosopher who lived between 470-380 B.C. He developed the concept of the 'atom', Greek for 'indivisible'. Democritus believed that everything in the universe was composed of atoms, which were themselves microscopic and indestructible.

Democritus had many remarkable insights for his time. He understood that the Milky Way was a vast conglomeration of stars and thought that space was infinite. Democritus also maintained that the universe was a purely mechanical system, governed by fixed laws.

**The preceding information is provided by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research's Windows to the Universe.**