Thales of Miletus was the first recorded individual to reject supernatural explanations for natural phenomena and propose natural causes instead. He was born in the city of Miletus in ancient Greece and made the first recorded prediction of a solar eclipse, which modern methods date to May 28, 585 BC. Thales was involved in many innovative activities and businesses, and was interested in geometry, using it to solve practical problems like calculating heights and distances. He proposed that water was the fundamental principle underlying all things.