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Pythagoras was an influential Greek mathematician and philosopher. He is best known for the theory to which he gave his name.

Very little is known about Pythagoras's life:

• thought to have been born on the Greek island of Samos around 580 BC
• travelled widely in his youth, visiting Egypt and Persia
• settled in the city of Crotone in southern Italy
• thought to have been killed or died around 500 BC

While living in Crotone, Pythagoras began teaching. He attracted a number of students who lived a structured life of study and exercise, inspired by a philosophy based around mathematics. The group became known as the Pythagoreans.

The early Pythagoreans were upper middle class and politically active. They formed a moral elite who strove to perfect their physical form in this life in order to gain immortality in the next. Their beliefs included avoiding eating meat and beans

In approximately 500 BC, there appears to have been an uprising against the power of the Pythagoreans. Pythagoras fled and is thought to have been killed or died shortly afterwards.