Regarded as the founder of geometry, Euclidis by far the most influential mathematician of all time. Until thetwentieth century, his name alone was a synonym for geometry ("Did youread your Euclid?" the teacher would ask). Although not an originalmathematician, his greatest contribution was to collect in one book,known as theElements,all the important parts ofthe best work done by the Greek mathematicians who preceded him. Thismasterful work became both a model for the logical method as well as thestandard text on geometry for well over 2,000 years.
Few facts of his life
Very little is known about the man who wouldbecome so influential to mathematics. Only two things are certain.Euclid (pronounced YOOdclud) taught in Alexandria, Egypt, after Plato(c. 428-348 b.c.) but before Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 b.c.). Somebelieve that Euclid may have been a student at Plato's Academy (whichcontinued long after Plato's death). As to Euclid's place of birth, noone knows for sure. Early Arab writers said he was a Greek born in Tyre(on the southern coast of what is now Lebanon), but he may have beenEgyptian. His arrival in Alexandria came about ten years after thatcity's founding by Alexander the Great (356-323 b.c.) in 332 b.c. Bythen Alexander was dead, but his city was ruled by Ptolemy I (c. 367-282b.c.).
King Ptolemy began