The Pythagorean theorem is traditionally attributed to the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras of Samos (c. 570–495 BCE), who is often credited with the first known proof of the theorem and for popularizing it in the Western world
. However, the theorem itself predates Pythagoras by many centuries. Evidence shows that Babylonian mathematicians, as early as 1900–1600 BCE, were aware of the relationship expressed by the theorem and had recorded it on clay tablets
. Similar knowledge also existed in ancient India, as seen in the Baudhayana Sulba-sutra written between 800 and 400 BCE
. Pythagoras founded a school in southern Italy where the theorem was studied and formalized, but he left no written records himself, so much of what is known comes from his followers
. The theorem was later rigorously proven and presented in Euclid’s Elements around 300 BCE, which helped establish the formal geometric proof that is still taught today
. In summary, while Pythagoras is credited with the theorem bearing his name and likely provided the first formal proof in the Greek tradition, the fundamental concept was known and used by earlier civilizations such as the Babylonians and Indians. The discovery of the Pythagorean theorem is thus a cumulative achievement across different cultures over many centuries
