Who is the best person in the world. Famous historical figures

People often argue about who was the most influential person in history, and everyone has their own opinion on this matter, because measuring the influence of a person in history is a rather subjective indicator. There are many people who influenced in different ways - these are religious figures, scientists and politicians. Today we will look at just 10 people who were among the most influential people in history.

1. Jesus Christ

Christianity is still the largest religion in the world, and approximately a third of the world's population classifies itself as Christian. Therefore, Jesus Christ truly deserves first place in our list of the most influential people in human history.

2. Sir Isaac Newton

One of the most influential scientists in history was undoubtedly Sir Isaac Newton, who shaped the face modern science. He was a teacher, scientist and inventor. He also created the famous laws of motion, and invented the reflecting microscope.

3. Aristotle

He is considered one of the three greatest philosophers of all time, the other two being Plato and Socrates, and his teachings spread throughout the world. One of his most famous students was Alexander the Great.

4. Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein's theory of relativity shaped the entire understanding of the universe and theories of physics.

5. Buddha

Buddha's teachings have influenced billions of people with the Eight Principles ethical life which he developed. He spent his life traveling around the Indian subcontinent.

6. Confucius

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher whose thinking influenced many people in the East. Many people still follow his teachings. It is an extremely important part Chinese history, and he has been described as a teacher, politician and philosopher.

7. Archimedes

Greek mathematician and inventor Archimedes is considered one of the most brilliant minds of all time. Archimedes' principle, which explains why a boat floats, is still taught to schoolchildren.

8. Alexander the Great

It is believed that he was one of the greatest military leaders who was responsible for the spread Greek culture over most of the world at that time. He also founded more than twenty great cities, including Alexandria in Egypt.

9. Appius Claudius Caecus

Appius Claudius Caecus was the man who established the foundations for the Roman Republic, which eventually became the Roman Empire.

10. William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is a man whom we repeat every day, quoting and not even suspecting that it was he who came up with this phrase or expression. This is amazing, remember how often you say something like this: “all that glitters is not gold”, “a pitiful sight”, “food of the gods”, “all’s well that ends well”. It's all Shakespeare. And of course, the maestro’s most famous phrase: “to be or not to be.”

What does it mean to be famous? For example, Chesley Sullenberger got into second position in the ranking of the Top 100 most influential people of 2009 just for the successful emergency landing of a plane, as a result of which no one was injured. But time passes, and all these rating names are erased and dissolved behind millions of the same rating names. But there are ten people who are known in every part of the globe. They knew about them, they know about them and will continue to know about them. And we invite you to remember these ten people in the Top Greatest People of All Time. The names on the list are arranged in ascending order, from tenth to the most important, first place.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Sir Isaac Newton

If you were to rank people for a query on Google, then Albert Einstein would be in tenth place; in one month, the query “Albert Einstein” gets up to 6.1 million search queries. But much has been written about Isaac Newton more books and Albert Einstein is unlikely to ever be able to defeat him in this sense. Sir Isaac Newton discovered the Law of Attraction, coined the term “gravity,” invented the reflecting telescope, defeated the Roman Catholic Church with his justification for geocentrism, and determined that anyone, even the most small object moves in the Universe. IN free time Newton explored the principles of optics. He lived a long life and died at the age of 84.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Leonardo da Vinci

In the case of one of history's greatest men, Leonardo da Vinci, a Google search can be quite inaccurate. And if you enter only the name “Leonardo,” Google will return a bunch of links to Ninja Turtles and people who drowned on the Titanic. But if you type full name Leonardo da Vinci, it will immediately become clear that he is known throughout the world. A man who could do anything. And all the books about him and his inventions are perhaps the largest and most interesting summary in the world. He was an engineer, inventor, anatomist, architect, mathematician, geologist, musician, cartographer, botanist, writer and sculptor. He invented a rifle, even if it didn’t immediately look like what we used to call a rifle, but Leonardo’s rifle could shoot at a distance of 1000 yards. He invented the parachute, 300 years before it was officially invented. He invented the hang glider, 400 years before its official invention. Leonardo's hang glider was based on the work of bird wings. He could imagine what a helicopter should be like, but he could not understand what kind of force it would have to be to lift such a structure into the air. He invented a tank, which was a structure driven by a crankshaft. The structure could move and shoot simultaneously and in different directions. He invented scissors by connecting two knives with a bolt.

Along with incredible inventions for his time, Leonardo was great artist and a sculptor. The work "Mona Lisa" is a masterpiece of the world portrait painting, around which controversy continues to this day.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. William Shakespeare

Speaking about Shakespeare's work, we can say almost nothing unambiguously about him himself. About his life, about him as a person. We only know that he was a simple actor, and then suddenly he suddenly became the greatest playwright. This gives rise to an incredible amount of rumors about whether Shakespeare was Shakespeare.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Adolf Gitler

Everyone knows who Adolf Hitler is. We all know that this man is the root cause of World War II. He provoked the war for two main reasons, so to speak. First: become the most powerful man on Earth and in history, and rule the world. The second reason: to create as much pain as possible against all those whom he personally considered responsible for putting Germany in an insulting and humiliating position after the First World War.

Hitler was an excellent speaker, and he knew what his compatriots wanted to hear and knew that they felt the same feelings towards the offenders of Germany as he did himself. Consequently, it was not difficult at all to raise people to “great” achievements and conquests.

Second World War became the hardest, bloodiest war in human history. It led to the greatest human losses. The estimated number of victims of World War II is 71 million. And Hitler is to blame for this. And during the war, he knew about it. He knew that all these victims were his victims, and he was glad about it. He was proud of it. Today, in the hearts and minds of people, Hitler is on the same list as the “Devil” and “Satan.”

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Apostle Paul of Tarsus

In sixth place in our ranking are the Greatest People of All Time. The top 10 is the Apostle Paul of Tarsus. The Apostle Paul is considered the most important person on the issue of the spread of Christianity, its ideology and principles. The Apostle Paul is considered the most important Christian apologist.

The Apostle Paul is the most famous and revered apostle of all the disciples of Christ.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

It may surprise you, but most people who Google Buddha's name are not Buddhists. In the Western Hemisphere and throughout Europe, Buddhism is not as widespread as in the Eastern part - Nepal and India. It is known that Buddha was a mortal man who achieved nirvana and spiritual awakening at the age of 35. To achieve nirvana and spiritual knowledge, the Buddha sat in meditation for 49 days under a tree until he achieved knowledge of what needed to be done in order to end human suffering. Having learned the truth, the Buddha carried his teachings to people so that all those who do could be freed from torment in their lives. This path is called the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of: right view, right intention, right concentration, right speech, right action, right lifestyle, right effort and right mindfulness. According to the teachings of Buddha, if you adhere to these simple rules, you can truly become happy man, independent of anything.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Moses

Moses is revered by all major modern religions peace, and Judaism, and Christianity, and Islam. He is the greatest prophet of the Supreme Testament, the liberator of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery. Moses was a legislator, a judge, a man through whom the Lord conveyed his main 10 commandments.

According to legend, Moses was found as a baby in a basket floating on the Nile and was raised as the son of Pharaoh. There is none, by and large accurate information about Moses, except that he grew up in a noble Egyptian family, and one fine day he saw how an Egyptian mocked his Jewish slave, killed the Egyptian and fled into the desert. Here, in the desert, God first appeared to Moses as a burning bush. This turning point inspired Moses, and he, inspired, went to Pharaoh to ask him to release all the Jews, otherwise the Lord would send such torment to the Egyptians that they would not be able to stand it. And so it happened. Pharaoh resisted, but the Lord showed his strength and sent unimaginable torment to the Egyptian people. Ultimately, Pharaoh was forced to release Moses along with all the Jews.

Moses led the Jews through the deserts for 40 years so that they would all be reborn from slavery, and here the Lord passed on his basic laws through Moses.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Abraham

Bronze in our ranking of The Greatest People of All Time. The top 10 is occupied by the Biblical Abraham. And this is no coincidence. Abraham is considered one of the first prophets of the Middle East, the first to preach one God. According to legend, God makes a covenant with Abraham because he was very pious and unshakable in his faith in God. This covenant is marked by circumcision. Before this, the Lord tested Abraham's faith, demanding that he kill his son Isaac, and Abraham had already raised a knife over his son when the Lord said that this was a test.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Mahomet

For non-Muslims, Mohammed founded Islam. For Muslims, Islam already existed, but Mohammed revived it in the hearts of people. Muslims believe that God transmitted through Mohammed the basic philosophical principles and revelations, which he wrote down in the main religious book of Muslims - the Koran.

Mohammed was born in Saudi Arabia and had 13 wives. Not a single accurate image of Mohammed has survived because he is considered the last prophet sent by Allah to teach people the basic path of peace and righteousness, and that he is too holy for all of us to see his face. During his life, Mohammed managed to unite the entire Middle East under the name of one God - Allah.

The greatest people of all time. Top 10. Jesus of Nazareth

It would be incomprehensible if the first place in the Greatest People of All Time Top 10 were taken by some other person. Naturally, this is Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ.

We all know the life story of Jesus, who was born to a virgin, died at the age of 33, that he was crucified on the cross, that he died and three days later was resurrected, ascended into heaven, into the abode of His Father, and now sits at the right hand of God.

Jesus Christ is accepted by all religions of the world; both believers and atheists know about him and his life. Perhaps some of the most primitive peoples and tribes living in the Amazon delta or in the impenetrable forests of Brazil do not know the name of Christ. The main book telling about the life and deeds of Christ is the Bible, the New Testament; we note that 25 million copies of the Bible are sold annually around the world.

So, even if you are not a believer, you will have to accept the fact that the most famous person Jesus of Nazareth appears all over the world.

Many great reformer rulers, generals, scientists and even philosophers can lay claim to being called the greatest people in human history. But it is difficult to consider a person’s achievements in isolation from the era. The Renaissance and Enlightenment eras, as well as the scientific revolution of the 20th century, changed the face of the world, but these breakthroughs human history were associated with the activities of many outstanding people.

The achievements of some talented people do not survive them. Many reached heights in conjunction with others, and their merits are not shared. Let's try to highlight several personalities in world history whose actions and ideas influenced the further course of the historical process. The consequences of their actions are being felt even now.

At the origins of European science: Aristotle

Aristotle is a rare example of a student who surpassed his brilliant mentor. He did not hesitate to criticize the teacher’s views, and his saying dedicated to this went down in history. Plato was a brilliant philosopher, but his views concerned issues of philosophy, ethics and political science. Aristotle went further.

A native of the insignificant town of Stagira, he came to Athens, where he created his own philosophical school. Its students included many philosophers and even famous politicians, but none of them made a contribution to history comparable to the founder.

Aristotle created the doctrine of the first principles of existence. He introduced the principle of development into world philosophy and created a system of philosophical categories and levels of existence. Stagirite was the founder of logic as a science. He studied ethics and developed the doctrine of virtues. In the field of cosmology, he defended the idea of a spherical Earth.

In his essay “The State,” Aristotle studied the strengths and weaknesses of different forms of government and put forward his own realistic idea of the state. His work on the history of Athens government structure- an example of a historical essay.

In addition, the scientist from Athens wrote works on all areas of knowledge available at that time - biology, zoology, poetics (where he studied performing arts). The works of Aristotle were studied by philosophers of the Middle Ages in Europe and the Muslim world. Him with with good reason can be placed at the origins of modern science.

Alexander the Great: Creation of a New World

In world history there have been many commanders whose victories numbered in the dozens. Alexander defeated the army of the largest empire in several battles, took the most fortified cities of that time and reached Punjab. The empire he created collapsed a few decades after his death, but new states emerged from its fragments.

The King of Macedonia was obsessed with the idea of uniting the West and the East under his rule. The idea was partly a success. After his campaigns, the Mediterranean became a different world. The Greeks had served eastern rulers before. But now the heart of Greek civilization began to beat in Asia and Egypt. The Alexandria Museum became the greatest center of intellectual life - philosophers, scientists and poets from all over the Mediterranean lived here. The library contained the most important scientific works. Here the Old Testament was translated into Greek. Pergamon, whose library also became a scientific center, did not lag behind him.

Hellenism brought about revitalization and changes in Hellenic literature, sculpture and architecture. New traditions and ideas associated with Eastern influence appeared. Later, the Roman Republic would join this world, whose culture would be formed under the influence of the Hellenistic one.

Alexander didn't have direct relationship to most processes. But it was his conquests that created a world in which the appearance of the Alexandrian Museum and the Pergamon Library was possible.

Prophet Muhammad: the creation of a new religion

Mohammed and the religion of Islam can be viewed in different ways. For many centuries, Arab tribes roamed the vast expanses of Arabia. They were vassals or allies of powerful empires. The nomads staged bloody wars among themselves, composed original and complex poems, and worshiped many gods.

In the first half of the 7th century, Muhammad began preaching in Mecca. He managed to overcome the enmity of his fellow tribesmen and gather a group of supporters. He went with them to Medina, but after a series of battles he defeated the enemies and achieved the unification of the two cities under his authority.

Muhammad's enemies accepted his religious teachings and became his companions. The creed of Islam assumed expansion - after the death of the Prophet, the Arab armies left Arabia. Led by the teachings of Muhammad, the Arabs destroyed the Sasanian Empire and conquered vast territories of the Byzantine Empire. They did not stop there and subjugated the territories of Spain, Central Asia and islands of the Mediterranean.

Now Islam is professed by about 1.5 billion people on the planet. It is the state religion of 28 countries, and communities of followers of the Prophet are located in 122 states. This is proof of the influence of the Prophet Muhammad on history, whose actions changed the lives of not only his fellow tribesmen, but also many distant peoples.

Charlemagne: at the origins of modern Europe

After the slow decline of the Roman Empire in the west, Europe plunged into the darkness of the Early Middle Ages. The population has decreased: some regions have become depopulated. Several epidemics and destructive wars swept across Europe.

Even under these conditions, the heritage of Roman civilization and science was not forgotten. But the eras of the 5th - 8th centuries stand out as difficult and dark times. In 768, Charles, who went down in history under the nickname the Great, became king of the Frankish kingdom. He was a decisive sovereign who fought a lot with his neighbors and expanded the borders of the Frankish kingdom, and in 800 he was crowned emperor.

His empire included parts of eastern Spain, Italy to Rome, and the territory of modern Germany. Avars and numerous Slavic peoples were dependent on him: Moravians, Czechs, Obodrites, Serbs.

The Emperor became famous not only victorious wars. He attracted educated people to his court and built schools. An Academy was organized, whose members were the smartest people of his era - the monk Alcuin, the historian Paul the Deacon, the biographer Einhard. Alcuin's student was the author of one of the medieval encyclopedias, Rabanus the Maurus.

Children of nobles and clergy studied in schools organized in the empire of Charlemagne. They studied the seven liberal arts, the canon of which had been formed earlier. "Carolingian minuscule", a method of writing letters that became the basis modern alphabet majority Western countries. At Charles's court there was an admiration for Roman literature, and copies of works in Latin were made.

The death of Charlemagne was followed by the collapse of his empire. The division of the empire into three states, formalized in 843, laid the foundations of modern Italy, Germany and France.

The Ideology That Changed History: Karl Marx

One of the greatest (considered by many) thinkers XIX century- Karl Marx. He was born in Prussia, but spent most of his life in Great Britain and died in London. The ideas and works he developed determined the course of history of the next century.

The formation of Marx as a thinker was influenced by the philosophy of Hegel. Marx criticized his predecessor, but, relying on his dialectical method, formed his concept of dialectical materialism. He introduced his own materialist understanding of the course of the historical process, which continues to be used in modern science.

Finally, Marx created the work “Capital”, in which he examined the contradictions of his contemporary capitalist society. He showed the essence of conflicts between capitalists and workers, as well as within these classes. He substantiated the inevitability of the replacement of capitalism by socialism.

Marx's ideas influenced all left-wing thinkers of the 20th century. The practical application of these ideas was made by the builders of the USSR and other socialist states. In the 21st century, socialist states continue to exist, and supporters of this ideology believe in the final victory of socialism. At the basis of this historical process were the ideas of Karl Marx.

The greatest people in human history are individuals who, alone or with the participation of fellow performers, changed the course of history or directed it in the right direction. This influence was manifested in various ways - the development of science, the creation of a new religion or ideology, changes in the political map of the world, which created new conditions for the development of civilization. The results of the activities of these individuals were able to fully manifest themselves years and decades after their death.

Culture

Who is the most influential and most significant person in history?

Researchers have created algorithm, which distributes historical figures by importance in Wikipedia, article length, readability, achievements and fame.

The program was developed by a computer science professor Stephen Skiena(Steven Skiena) and software engineer at Google Charles B. Ward(Charles B. Ward), who wrote the book "Who Matters More?" (Who's Bigger: Where Historical Figures Really Rank).

Of course they the conclusions are not without contradictions. The authors relied on the results of the English version of Wikipedia, so the list rather highlights the most important historical figures in Western history.

It is noteworthy that the hundred most significant personalities included only Three women: Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and Joan of Arc. Also unexpected was the 7th place of Adolf Hitler, who was much higher in the ranking of Joseph Stalin, who was in 18th place.

The most historically significant musician was Mozart (in 24th place), followed by Beethoven (27th) and Bach (48th). The most famous modern pop musician was Elvis Presley (69th).

The most significant people

1. Jesus Christ– central figure in Christianity (7 BC – 30 AD)

2. Napoleon– Emperor of France (1769 – 1821)

3. Muhammad– prophet and founder of Islam (570-632)

4. William Shakespeare- English playwright (1564 -1616)

5. Abraham Lincoln– 16th President of the United States (1809-1865)

6. George Washington– 1st President of the USA (1732 -1799)

7. Adolf Gitler- Fuhrer of Nazi Germany, who participated in World War II (1889 - 1945)

8. Aristotle– Greek philosopher and polymath (384 -322 BC)

9. Alexander the Great(Alexander the Great) - Greek king and conqueror of a world power (356 - 323 BC)

10. Thomas Jefferson– 3rd US President who wrote the Declaration of Independence (1743-1826)

11. Henry VIII– King of England (1491 -1547)

12. Charles Darwin– scientist, creator of the theory of evolution (1809-1882)

13. Elizabeth I- Queen of England, known as the "Maiden Queen" (1533 -1603)

14. Karl Marx – German philosopher, founder of Marskiism (1818 -1883)

15. Julius Caesar- Roman commander and statesman (100 -44 BC)

16. Queen Victoria- Queen of Great Britain victorian era (1819 -1901)

18. Joseph Stalin- Soviet leader (1878 -1953)

19. Albert Einstein– theoretical physicist, creator of the Theory of Relativity (1878 -1953)

20. Christopher Columbus- explorer who discovered America for Europeans (1451-1506)

21. Isaac Newton– scientist, creator of the theory of gravity (1643 -1727)

22. Charlemagne- the first Roman emperor, considered the "father of Europe" (742 -814)

23. Theodore Roosevelt– 26th President of the United States (1858 -1919)

24. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart– Austrian composer (1756 – 1791)

25. Plato– Greek philosopher, wrote the work “The Republic” (427 -347 BC)

26. Louis XIV– King of France, known as the “Sun King” (1638 -1715)

27. Ludwig van Beethoven– German composer (1770 -1827)

28. Ulysses S. Grant– 18th President of the United States (1822-1885)

29. Leonardo da Vinci– Italian artist and inventor (1452 – 1519)

31. Carl Linnaeus- Swedish biologist, father of taxonomy - classification of flora and fauna

32. Ronald Reagan– 40th President of the United States (1911-2004)

33. Charles Dickens– English novelist (1812 -1870)

34. Apostle Paul– Christian apostle (5 AD – 67 AD)

35. Benjamin Franklin– Founding Father of the USA, scientist (1706 – 1790)

36. George W. Bush– 43rd President of the United States (1946 -)

37. Winston Churchill– Prime Minister of Great Britain (1874 -1965)

38. Genghis Khan– founder of the Mongol Empire (1162 – 1227)

39. Charles I– King of England (1600 -1649)

40. Thomas Edison– inventor of the light bulb and phonograph (1847 -1931)

41. James I– King of England (1566 -1625)

42. Friedrich Nietzsche– German philosopher (1844-1900)

43. Franklin D. Roosevelt– 32nd President of the United States (1882-1945)

44. Sigmund Freud- Austrian neurologist, creator of psychoanalysis (1856 -1939)

45. Alexander Hamilton- Founding Father of the USA (1755 -1804)

46. Mahatma Gandhi– Indian national leader (1869-1948)

47. Woodrow Wilson– 28th President of the United States (1856 – 1924)

48. Johann Sebastian Bach– German composer (1685 -1750)

49. Galileo Galilei– Italian physicist and astronomer (1564 -1642)

50. Oliver Cromwell– Lord Protector of England (1599 – 1658)

51. James Madison- 4th President of the USA (1751 -1836)

52. Guatama Buddha– central figure in Buddhism (563 -483 BC)

53. Mark Twain– American writer (1835 -1910)

54. Edgar Alan Poe– American writer (1809 -1849)

55. Joseph Smith- American religious leader, founder of Mormonism (1805 -1844)

56. Adam Smith– economist (1723 -1790)

57. David– biblical king of Israel, founder of Jerusalem (1040 -970 BC)

58. George III– King of Great Britain (1738 – 1820)

59. Immanuel Kant– German philosopher, author of “Critique of Pure Reason” (1724 -1804)

60. James Cook– explorer and discoverer of Hawaii and Australia (1728 -1779)

61. John Adams– Founding Father and 2nd President of the United States (1735 -1826)

62. Richard Wagner– German composer (1813 -1883)

63. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky– Russian composer (1840 -1893)

64. Voltaire- French philosopher and educator (1694 -1778)

65. Apostle Peter– Christian apostle (? - 67 AD)

66. Andrew Jackson– 7th President of the USA (1767 -1845)

67. Constantine the Great– Roman emperor, first Christian emperor (272 -337)

68. Socrates– Greek philosopher (469 -399)

69. Elvis Presley– “King of Rock and Roll” (1935 -1977)

70. Wilgelm the conqueror- King of England, Norman conqueror (1027 -1087)

71. John F. Kennedy– 35th President of the United States (1917 -1963)

72. Aurelius Augustine- Christian theologian (354 -430)

73. Vincent Van Gogh– post-impressionist artist (1853 -1890)

74. Nikolay Kompernik– astronomer, author of heliocentric cosmology (1473 -1543)

75. Vladimir Lenin- Soviet revolutionary, founder of the USSR (1870 -1924)

76. Robert Edward Lee– American military leader (1807 -1870)

77. Oscar Wilde - English writer and poet (1854 -1900)

78. Charles II– King of England (1630 -1685)

79. Cicero– Roman politician and orator, author of “On the State” (106 -43 BC)

80. Jean-Jacques Rousseau– philosopher (1712 -1778)

81. Francis Bacon- English scientist, founder of empiricism (1561 -1626)

82. Richard Nixon– 37th President of the United States (1913 -1994)

83. Louis XVI– King of France, executed during the French Revolution (1754 -1793)

84. Charles V– Holy Roman Emperor (1500 -1558)

85. King Arthur– mythical king of Great Britain in the 6th century

86. Michelangelo- Italian Renaissance sculptor (1475 -1564)

87. Philip II– King of Spain (1527 -1598)

88.Johann Wolfgang von Goethe– German writer and thinker (1749 -1832)

89. Ali ibn Abu Talib– caliph and central figure in Sufism (598 -661)

90. Thomas Aquinas– Italian theologian (1225 -1274)

91. John Paul II– 20th century pope (1920 – 2005)

92. Rene Descartes– French philosopher (1596 -1650)

93. Nikola Tesla– inventor (1856 -1943)

94. Harry S. Truman– 33rd President of the United States (1884 -1972)

95. Joan of Arc- French heroine, canonized (1412 -1431)

96. Dante Alighieri- Italian poet, author Divine Comedy" (1265 -1321)

97. Otto von Bismarck– first chancellor and unifier of modern Germany (1815 -1898)

98. Grover Cleveland– 22nd and 24th President of the United States (1837 -1908)

99. John Calvin– French Protestant theologian (1509 – 1564)

100. John Locke- English philosopher of the Enlightenment (1632 -1704)

Who do you consider the most worthy example and inspiration for yourself personally? Martin Luther King Jr., Yuri Gagarin or maybe your grandfather? Our world took several millennia to form, and many historical figures took part in this difficult process, who made their invaluable contribution to science, culture and many other spheres of life, both in their countries and in all of humanity. It is very difficult and almost impossible to select those whose influence was most significant. However, the authors of this list still decided to try and collect in one publication the most inspiring personalities in the history of world civilizations. Some of them are known to everyone, not everyone knows about others, but they all have one common feature– these people changed our world for the better. From the Dalai Lama to Charles Darwin, here are 25 of the most outstanding figures in history!

25. Charles Darwin

A famous British traveler, naturalist, geologist and biologist, Charles Darwin is most famous for his theory, which changed the understanding of human nature and the development of the world in all its diversity. Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection suggests that all species, including humans, are descended from common ancestors, a concept that shocked the scientific community at the time. Darwin published The Theory of Evolution with some examples and evidence in his revolutionary book On the Origin of Species in 1859, and since then our world and the way we understand it have changed greatly.

24. Tim Berners-Lee

Photo: Paul Clarke

Tim Berners-Lee is a British engineer, inventor and computer scientist best known as the creator of the World Wide Web. Sometimes called the "Father of the Internet", Berners-Lee developed the first hypertext web browser, web server and web editor. The technologies of this outstanding scientist spread worldwide and forever changed the way information is generated and processed.

23. Nicholas Winton

Photo: cs:User:Li-sung

Nicholas Winton was a British philanthropist, and since the late 1980s he has become best known for smuggling 669 Jewish children out of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia just before World War II. Winton transported all these children to British orphanages, and some of them even managed to be placed with families, which definitely saved them all from inevitable death in concentration camps or during the bombings. The philanthropist organized as many as 8 trains from Prague and also took children out of Vienna, but using other modes of transport. The Englishman never sought fame, and for 49 years he kept his heroic deed a secret. In 1988, Winton's wife discovered he had notebook with records from 1939 and with addresses of families who accepted young Salvationists. Since then, recognition, orders and awards have fallen upon him. Nicholas Winton died at the age of 106 in 2015.

22. Gautama Buddha

Photo: Max Pixel

Also known as Siddhartha Gautama (from birth), Tathagata (the comer) or Bhagavan (the blessed one), Shakyamuni Buddha (the awakened sage of the Shakya lineage) was the spiritual leader and founder of Buddhism, one of the world's three leading religions. Buddha was born in the 6th century BC in royal family and lived in absolute isolation and luxury. As the prince grew older, he left his family and all his property to plunge into self-discovery and seek to rid humanity of suffering. After several years of meditation and contemplation, Gautama achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha. Through his teachings, Shakyamuni Buddha influenced the lives of millions of people around the world.

21. Rosa Parks

Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as the "First Lady of Civil Rights" and the "Mother of the Freedom Movement," Rosa Parks was a true pioneer and founder of the black civil rights movement in 1950s Alabama, which was still heavily segregated by race. In 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a courageous African-American woman and passionate civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, disobeying the driver's orders. Her rebellious act provoked other blacks into what was later called the legendary "Montgomery Bus Boycott." This boycott lasted 381 days and became one of key events in the history of the black civil rights movement in the United States.

20. Henry Dunant

Photo: ICRC

A successful Swiss entrepreneur and active public figure, Henri Dunant became the first person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. During a business trip in 1859, Dunant encountered the terrible consequences of the Battle of Solferino (Italy), where the troops of Napoleon, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Austrian Empire under the leadership of Franz Joseph I clashed, and the troops were left to die on the battlefield. almost 9 thousand wounded. In 1863, in response to the horrors of war and the brutality of the battle he saw, the entrepreneur founded the well-known International Committee of the Red Cross. The Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, adopted in 1864, was also based on ideas expressed by Henri Dunant.

19. Simon Bolivar

Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as the Libertador, Simon Bolivar was a prominent Venezuelan military and political leader who played a key role in the liberation of six countries in South and Central America - Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama - from Spanish rule. Bolivar was born into a wealthy aristocratic family, but he devoted most of his life to military campaigns and the fight for the independence of the Spanish colonies in America. The country of Bolivia, by the way, was named in honor of this hero and liberator.

18. Albert Einstein

Photo: wikimedia commons

Albert Einstein is one of the most respected and influential scientists of all time. This outstanding theoretical physicist, Nobel laureate and public figure-humanist gave the world over 300 scientific works in physics and about 150 books and articles on history, philosophy and other humanitarian areas. His whole life was full of interesting research, revolutionary ideas and theories, which later became fundamental for modern science. Einstein was most glorified by the Theory of Relativity, and thanks to this work he became one of greatest personalities in the history of mankind. Even after almost a century, this Theory continues to influence the thinking of the modern scientific community working to create a Theory of Everything (or Unified Field Theory).

17. Leonardo da Vinci

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It is difficult to describe and list all the areas in which Leonardo da Vinci, a man who changed the whole world with his mere existence, succeeded. In all my life this Italian genius During the Renaissance, he managed to achieve unprecedented heights in painting, architecture, music, mathematics, anatomy, engineering, and many other areas. Da Vinci is recognized as one of the most versatile and talented people to ever live on our planet, and he is the author of such revolutionary inventions as the parachute, helicopter, tank and scissors.

16. Christopher Columbus

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The famous Italian explorer, traveler and colonizer, Christopher Columbus was not the first European to sail to America (after all, the Vikings had been here before him). However, his voyages gave rise to an entire era of the most outstanding discoveries, conquests and colonizations, which continued for several centuries after his death. Columbus's travels to the New World greatly influenced the development of geography of those times, because at the beginning of the 15th century people still believed that the Earth was flat and that there were no more lands beyond the Atlantic.

15. Martin Luther King Jr.

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This is one of the most influential personalities of the 20th century. Martin Luther King Jr. is best known for his peaceful movement against discrimination, racial segregation and for the civil rights of black Americans, for which he even received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Martin Luther King was a Baptist preacher and powerful speaker who inspired millions of people around the world to fight for democratic freedoms and their rights. He played a key role in promoting civil rights through peaceful protests based on Christian faith and the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.

14. Bill Gates

Photo: DFID – UK Department for International Development

The founder of the legendary multinational company Microsoft, Bill Gates was considered the richest person in the world for almost 20 years. Recently, however, Gates has become known primarily as a generous philanthropist rather than for his success in business and the market. information technologies. At one time, Bill Gates stimulated the development of the personal computer market, making computers accessible to the simplest users, which is exactly what he wanted. Now he is passionate about the idea of providing Internet access to the whole world. Gates is also working on projects dedicated to combating global warming and combating gender discrimination.

William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers and playwrights in the English language, and he has had a profound influence on a galaxy of literary figures, as well as millions of readers around the world. In addition, Shakespeare introduced about 2,000 new words, most of which are still in use in modern English. With his works, the national poet of England has inspired a great many composers, artists and film directors from all over the world.

12. Sigmund Freud

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Austrian neurologist and founder of the science of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud is famous precisely for his unique research mysterious world human subconscious. With them, he forever changed the way we evaluate ourselves and the people around us. Freud's work influenced 20th-century psychology, sociology, medicine, art, and anthropology, and his therapeutic techniques and theories in psychoanalysis are still studied and practiced today.

11. Oskar Schindler

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Oskar Schindler was a German entrepreneur, Nazi Party member, spy, womanizer and drinker. None of this sounds very appealing and certainly doesn't sound like the characteristics of a real hero. However, despite all of the above, Schindler deservedly made it onto this list, because during the Holocaust and World War II, this man saved about 1,200 Jews, rescuing them from death camps to work in his factories. Heroic story Oskar Schindler has been described in many books and films, but the most famous adaptation was Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Schindler's List.

10. Mother Teresa

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A Catholic nun and missionary, Mother Teresa devoted almost her entire life to serving the poor, sick, disabled and orphans. She founded the charitable movement and women's monastic congregation “Missionary Sisters of Love” (Congregatio Sororum Missionarium Caritatis), which exists in almost all countries of the world (in 133 countries as of 2012). In 1979, Mother Teresa became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and 19 years after her death (in 2016) she was canonized by Pope Francis himself.

9. Abraham Lincoln

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Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and one of the most influential figures in American history. Coming from a poor farming family, Lincoln fought for the reunification of the country during Civil War between North and South, strengthened the federal government, modernized the American economy, but he earned his reputation as an outstanding historical figure primarily for his contribution to the development of a democratic society and the fight against slavery and oppression of the black population of the United States. Abraham Lincoln's legacy continues to shape the American people today.

8. Stephen Hawking

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Stephen Hawking is one of the most famous and respected scientists in the world, and he has made invaluable contributions to the development of science (especially cosmology and theoretical physics). The work of this British researcher and ardent popularizer of science is also impressive because Hawking made almost all of his discoveries in spite of a rare and slowly progressing degenerative disease. The first signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis appeared in his student years, and now the great scientist is completely paralyzed. However serious illness and paralysis did not prevent Hawking from marrying twice, becoming the father of two sons, flying in zero gravity, writing many books, becoming one of the founders of quantum cosmology and the winner of a whole collection of prestigious awards, medals and orders.

7. Unknown rebel

Photo: HiMY SYeD / flickr

This is the conventional name given to an unknown man who independently held back a column of tanks for half an hour during the protests in Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen, China) in 1989. In those days, hundreds of protesters, most of whom were ordinary students, died in clashes with the military. The identity and fate of the unknown rebel remains unknown, but the photograph has become an international symbol of courage and peaceful resistance.

6. Muhammad

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Muhammad was born in 570 AD in the city of Mecca (Mecca, modern Saudi Arabia). He is considered a Muslim prophet and the founder of the Islamic religion. Being not only a preacher, but also politician, Muhammad united all the Arab peoples of those times into a single Muslim empire, which conquered most of the Arabian Peninsula. The author of the Qur'an started out with a few followers, but eventually his teachings and practices formed the basis of the Islamic religion, which is now the second most popular religion in the world, with some 1.8 billion believers.

5. The 14th Dalai Lama

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The 14th Dalai Lama, or by birth Lhamo Thondup, is a 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a renowned preacher of Buddhist philosophy of peace, professing respect for all life on Earth and calling for the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. The former spiritual and political leader of Tibet in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama always tried to find a compromise and sought reconciliation with the Chinese authorities who invaded Tibet with territorial claims. In addition, Lhamo Dhondrup is a passionate supporter of the women's rights movement, interfaith dialogues and advocates for solving global environmental problems.

4. Princess Diana

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Also known as “Lady Di” and “the people’s princess,” Princess Diana captured the hearts of millions around the world with her philanthropy, hard work and sincerity. She devoted most of her short life to helping those in need in third world countries. The Queen of Human Hearts, as she was also called, founded the movement to end the production and use of anti-personnel mines, and was also actively involved in several dozen humanitarian campaigns and non-profit organizations, including the Red Cross, London's Great Ormond Street Hospital and AIDS research. Lady Di died at the age of 36 from injuries received in a car accident.

3. Nelson Mandela

Photo: Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science

Nelson Mandela was a South African politician, philanthropist, revolutionary, reformer, passionate advocate for human rights during apartheid (policy of racial segregation) and President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He had a profound influence on the history of South Africa and the world. Mandela spent almost 27 years in prison for his beliefs, but he did not lose faith in the liberation of his people from the oppression of the authorities, and after leaving prison he achieved democratic elections, as a result of which he became the first black president of South Africa. His tireless work to peacefully end the apartheid regime and establish democracy inspired millions of people around the world. In 1993, Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize.

2. Jeanne d'Arc

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Also known as the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc is the greatest heroine in French history and one of the most famous women in history. world history. She was born into a poor farming family in 1412 and believed that she was chosen by God to lead France to victory in the Hundred Years' War with England. The girl died before the end of the war, but her courage, passion and devotion to her goal (especially during the siege of Orleans) caused a long-awaited moral upsurge and inspired the entire French army to the final victory in the protracted and seemingly hopeless confrontation with the British. Unfortunately, in battle, the Maid of Orleans was captured by her enemies, condemned by the Inquisition and burned at the stake at the age of 19.

1. Jesus Christ

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Jesus Christ is the central figure of the Christian religion, and He has had such a profound impact on our world that He is often called the most influential and inspiring person in human history. Compassion, love for others, sacrifice, humility, repentance and forgiveness, which Jesus called for in His sermons and personal example, were concepts completely opposite to the values of ancient civilizations during His life on Earth. Yet today there are approximately 2.4 billion followers of His teachings and Christian faith in the world.