The discovery of static electricity and its manifestation

Already in the stone age our ancestors were fascinated by the mysterious phenomenon of static electricity. Thales from Miletos (mathematician) described about 600 years B.C. how the material amber could become ”animated” and attract dust and down. In 1600, William Gilbert, English physician and physicist, published his famous work ”De magnete” the first scientific treatment of magnetic and electric phenomena, pointing out their different character. He also postulated that earth is a great magnet.