The Ionian School was an ancient Greek philosophical movement that emerged in the 6th century BCE, primarily in the region of Ionia, located on the western coast of modern-day Turkey. It is known for its emphasis on natural philosophy and the search for fundamental principles governing the universe. Key figures include Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, who sought to explain natural phenomena without resorting to mythology. Philosophers of the Ionian School focused on understanding the nature of reality through observation and reasoning. They proposed various theories about the origins of the cosmos, suggesting that everything is derived from a single substance, such as water or air. Their work laid the groundwork for later philosophical thought and the development of science.