Giovanni Battista Vico was an Italian philosopher and historian born in 1668. He is best known for his work in the fields of philosophy of history and social sciences. Vico proposed that history follows a cyclical pattern, influenced by human nature and cultural development. His most notable work, The New Science, emphasizes the importance of understanding the context of societies to grasp their evolution. Vico's ideas laid the groundwork for later thinkers, including Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche. He argued that knowledge is shaped by historical context, which contrasts with the rationalist views of his time. Vico's contributions continue to influence modern philosophy and historiography.