User:Mover of molehills/Electromagnetism

Ancient world
Investigation into electromagnetic phenomena began as early as 5,000 years ago. There is evidence that the ancient Chinese, Mayan,, and potentially even Egyptian civilizations knew that the naturally magnetic mineral magnetite had attractive properties, and many incorporated it into their art and architecture. Ancient people were also aware lightning and static electricity, although they had no idea of the mechanisms behind these phenomena. The Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus discovered around 600 B.C.E. that amber could acquire an electric charge when it was rubbed with cloth, which allowed it to pick up light objects such as pieces of straw. Thales also experimented with the ability of magnetic rocks to attract one other, and hypothesized that this phenomena might be connected to the attractive power of amber, foreshadowing the deep connections between electricity and magnetism that would be discovered many years later. Despite all this investigation, ancient civilizations had no understanding of the the mathematical basis of electromagnetism, and they often analyzed its impacts through the lens of religion rather than science (lightning, for instance, was considered to be a creation of the gods in many cultures).