The prompt for Albert Einstein developing his theories of relativity stemmed from his desire to resolve inconsistencies in physics. In the early 20th century, classical mechanics could not adequately explain certain phenomena, particularly regarding light and motion. Influenced by the work of physicists like James Clerk Maxwell on electromagnetism, Einstein sought a coherent framework that unified space and time. The realization that time is relative, depending on the observer's speed, and that light's speed is constant revolutionized the understanding of both space and time. This culminated in his formulation of special and general relativity, redefining foundational physics.