Aristotle was born in Stagira, Chalcidice, Greece, to Nicomachus, the personal physician of King Amyntas of Macedon, and Phaestis, a woman with origins from Chalcis, Euboea. His early life was marked by the death of his parents, after which he was brought up by a guardian named Proxenus of Atarneus.

At the age of seventeen or eighteen, Aristotle moved to Athens to continue his education at Plato's Academy. He became distinguished as a researcher and lecturer, earning the nickname 'mind of the school' from Plato. He remained in Athens for nearly twenty years, deeply influenced by Plato's teachings but also developing his own philosophical views.

After Plato's death, Aristotle left Athens, possibly due to his disagreement with the new direction of the Academy under Plato's nephew Speusippus, or because of anti-Macedonian sentiments in Athens. He traveled to Assos in Asia Minor, where he was invited by his former fellow student Hermias of Atarneus.

King Philip II of Macedon summoned Aristotle to tutor his young son Alexander, who would later become Alexander the Great. This period marked a significant phase in Aristotle's life, as he had the opportunity to influence one of history's most famous leaders.

Aristotle returned to Athens and established his own school, the Lyceum, where he conducted courses and research for the next twelve years. The Lyceum became a hub for intellectual inquiry, and Aristotle built a large library that included manuscripts, maps, and museum objects.

Following the death of Alexander the Great, Aristotle left Athens again, this time due to the anti-Macedonian sentiments that had intensified. He died in Euboea in 322 BCE of natural causes, leaving behind a legacy that would shape Western philosophy and science for centuries to come.

Aristotle's works have had a profound impact on various fields, including philosophy, science, and ethics. His contributions to logic, metaphysics, biology, and ethics continue to be studied and debated today, making him one of the most influential figures in the history of thought.