Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Biography

Born in Leipzig, he studied philosophy and law at the universities of Leipzig and Jena. He served as a diplomat and advisor at European courts, maintaining extensive correspondence with scientists and monarchs. He founded the Berlin Academy of Sciences and advised Peter the Great on creating an academy in St. Petersburg. He spent the last years of his life in Hanover, working on the history of the House of Welf.

Key discoveries

• Differential and integral calculus: the modern system of notation (dx, ∫), rules of differentiation and integration, the fundamental theorem of calculus — the basis of mathematical analysis.
• Binary number system: representation of numbers using only zeros and ones, which became the foundation of computer technology.
• Principle of pre-established harmony: a philosophical concept explaining the interaction of soul and body, which influenced the development of systems thinking.