The document lists influential individuals from history in three categories: secular/non-religious people, religious figures, and most ruthless person. For secular people, it provides brief biographies of Albert Einstein, Galileo Galilei, Alexander the Great, William Shakespeare, John Locke, Christopher Columbus, Johann Gutenberg, Sir Isaac Newton, and Napoleon. For religious figures, it outlines the contributions of Moses, Confucius, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Martin Luther, and Nanak and Lao-Tzu. It also identifies Ivan the Terrible as the "most ruthless person."

1. Individuals Who Changed
the World
Top Five Secular People
Top Five Religious People
Most Ruthless Person

2. Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein
Honorable
Mention
• a German-born theoretical physicist.
Einstein's work is also known for its
influence on the philosophy of science.
• He developed the general theory of
relativity, one of the two pillars of modern
physics.
• Einstein is best known in popular culture
for his mass–energy equivalence formula
E = mc2
(which has been dubbed "the
world's most famous equation").
• He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in
Physics for his "services to theoretical
physics", in particular his discovery of the
law of the photoelectric effect, a pivotal
step in the evolution of quantum theory.

3. Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei
an Italian physicist, mathematician,
astronomer, and philosopher who played
a major role in the Scientific Revolution.
His achievements include improvements
to the telescope and consequent
astronomical observations.
Galileo has been called the "father of
modern observational astronomy," the
"father of modern physics," the "father of
science,” and "the Father of Modern
Science."
Galileo challenged the Church and the
geocentric theory. Due to his support of
the heliocentric theory, he was tried by
the Roman Catholic Inquisition, found
"vehemently suspect of heresy," forced to
recant, and spent the rest of his life under
house arrest.
Honorable
Mention

4. Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great
King of Macedon who created one of the
largest empires of the ancient world. In
334 BC, he overthrew the Persian King
Darius III and conquered the entirety of the
Persian Empire. Alexander died in Babylon
in 323 BC and a series of civil wars tore his
empire apart.
Alexander's legacy includes the cultural
diffusion his conquests engendered. He
founded some twenty cities that bore his
name, like Alexandria in Egypt.
Alexander's mix of Greek, Persian, Egyptian,
and Indian culture resulted in a new
Hellenistic civilization. He is also the
measure against which military leaders
compare themselves, and military academies
throughout the world still teach his tactics.
Home
Honorable
Mention

5. William Shakespeare, English
dramatist and poet, was author of
the most widely admired and
influential body of literature by any
individual in the history of Western
civilization. His work comprises 36
plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative
poems.
His writings showcased an array of
human emotions and situations that
still influence theater and film today.
William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
5

6. 4
John LockeJohn Locke
Enlightenment Thinker who wrote
Two Treaties of Government
Natural Rights – Life, Liberty, and
Property
Right to overthrow government if
King does not protect Natural
Rights
Led to American and French
Revolution

7. ChristopherChristopher
ColumbusColumbus
Discovered the New World
Led to Global Trade – Columbian
Exchange
Spanish conquer South America –
Aztec, Incas
Atlantic Ocean becomes major
trade route – Sea based Empires
3

8. Johann GutenbergJohann Gutenberg
His invention of mechanical movable type
printing started the Printing Revolution
and is widely regarded as the most
important event of the modern period.
It played a key role in the development of
the Renaissance, Reformation and the
Scientific Revolution and laid the material
basis for the modern knowledge-based
economy and the spread of learning to the
masses.
Gutenberg's printing technology spread
rapidly throughout Europe and later the
world. His major work, the Gutenberg
Bible has been acclaimed for its high
aesthetic and technical quality.
Home2

9. Sir Issac NewtonSir Issac Newton
an English physicist, mathematician,
astronomer, natural philosopher,
alchemist, and theologian.
Newton described universal
gravitation and the three laws of
motion which dominated the scientific
view of the physical universe for the
next three centuries.
Newton showed that the motions of
objects on Earth and of celestial
bodies are governed by the same set of
natural laws by demonstrating the
consistency between Kepler's laws of
planetary motion and his theory of
gravitation, thus removing the last
doubts about heliocentrism and
advancing the scientific revolution.
1 Home

10. Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible
The first ruler of Russia to assume the title of
Tsar in 1547. During his rule he built a wall
around the city of Novgorod making its
inhabitants prisoners in their own city.
Everyday between 500 to 1000 people were
gathered from the city and were tortured and
killed in front of him and his son.
He was also responsible for the miscarriage of
his daughter-in-law, whom he physically
abused for dressing up immodestly, and the
death of his son, whom he accidentally struck
with a pointed staff during the argument that
preceded after his daughter-in-laws
miscarriage. He died in 1584 while playing
chess and is said to have been poisoned.
Honorable
Mention

11. Mao ZedongMao Zedong
Communist Leader of China
Used policies of Great Leap
Forward and Cultural Revolution
Cult of Personality
Suffered through Long March and
later defeated Jiang Jieshi in Civil
War.
Home
Honorable
Mention

12. Otto vonOtto von
BismarckBismarck
Prussian Chancellor who united
Germany using “Blood and Iron”
Nationalist Leader
Changed the Balance of Power in
Europe and began militarism in
Europe
Led to WWI
Honorable
Mention

13. HernandoHernando
CortesCortes
Spanish Conquistador who led an
expedition that caused the fall of
the Aztec Empire and brought large
portions of mainland Mexico under
the rule of the King of Castile in
the early 16th century.
5

14. NapoleonNapoleon
French General who led a coup
d’etat and used Military tactics to
expand Napoleonic Empire
Utilized Enlightenment ideals to
guide his rule – Napoleonic Law
Code, schools, national bank, etc.
Became a harsh dictator
Helped to spur Nationalism
throughout France and Europe.
4

15. Genghis KhanGenghis Khan
United Mongols and conquered
the largest land empire in history
Used fierce military tactics
Created Pax Mongolia – Peace
along the Silk Road led to
increased global trade
3

16. Adolph HitlerAdolph Hitler
An Austrian-born German politician and
the leader of the Nazi Party. He became the
head of state, or Führer, ruling the country
as an absolute dictator of Germany.
He promoted German nationalism, anti-
semitism, and anti-communism with
propaganda and a cult of personality.
His rearmament of Germany led to the 1939
invasion of Poland and the outbreak of
World War II in Europe. By 1945, Allied
armies had invaded German-held Europe
from all sides. However, Nazi forces
engaged in the systematic murder of as
many as 17 million civilians, an estimated
six million of whom were Jews targeted in
the Holocaust.
2

17. Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin
Communist Leader of Soviet Union
Used policies of Collectivization
and Five-Year Plans to build Soviet
military and industry
Cult of Personality
Helped to start Cold War – no
elections in Eastern Europe, support
of North Korea, and blockade of
Berlin
1 Home

18. NanakNanak
Honorable
Mention
Founder of Sikhism

19. Lao-TzuLao-Tzu
Honorable
Mention
Founder of Daoism

20. Martin LutherMartin Luther
Wrote 95 Theses
Challenged Roman Catholic Church
(Sale of Indulgences) and started the
Protestant Reformation
Led to religious split in Europe
(War, Inquisition, search for
religious freedom)
Other Protestant faiths developed
(Calvinist, Anglican)
Honorable
Mention

21. MosesMoses
A religious leader, lawgiver and
prophet, to whom the authorship of
the Torah is traditionally attributed.
He is the most important prophet in
Judaism, and is also considered an
important prophet in Christianity and
Islam.
After killing an Egyptian slave-
master, Moses fled across the Red Sea
to Midian where he encountered the
God of Israel in the form of a
"burning bush“ and later received the
Ten Commandments.
After 40 years of wandering in the
desert, Moses died within sight of the
Promised Land.
5

22. ConfuciusConfucius
Chinese thinker and social
philosopher, whose teachings and
philosophy have deeply influenced
Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and
Vietnamese thought and life.
His major works were called the
Analects of Confucius and major ideas
focused around the five relationships.
(Parent to Child, Ruler to Subject,
Husband to Wife, Old to Young, and
Friend to Friend)
4

23. Siddhartha GuatamaSiddhartha Guatama
Known as the Buddha following his own
personal enlightenment. He used this
newly acquired knowledge to instruct
others in his faith to reach Nirvana,
which is the end of all suffering.
Gautama, now Buddha, then became a
teacher and instructed monks and other
followers in the ways of Nirvana, or the
shedding of suffering, and the pathway to
enlightenment, among many other
lessons and concepts.
Buddha was very clear to emphasize that
he was not a god, but rather an
enlightened man. Buddhism is the fourth
largest organized religion in the world
today.3

24. Jesus ChristJesus Christ
The central figure of Christianity,
which views Jesus as the Messiah
foretold in the Old Testament. Most
Christians believe him to be the Son
of God.
The theme of Jesus' teachings was
that of repentance, unconditional
love, forgiveness of sin, grace, and the
coming of the Kingdom of God.
Christianity spread throughout the
Roman Empire under a version
known as Nicene Christianity and
became the state religion under
Theodosius I. Over the centuries, it
spread to most of Europe, and
around the world.2

25. MuhammadMuhammad
The founder of the religion of Islam
and is regarded by Muslims as a
messenger and prophet of God (All hā ),
the greatest law-bearer in a series of
Islamic prophets and by most Muslims
the last prophet as taught by the
Qur'an.
Muslims thus consider him the restorer
of an uncorrupted original
monotheistic faith (isl mā ) of Adam,
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and
other prophets.
He was also active as a diplomat,
merchant, philosopher, orator,
legislator, reformer, military general,
and, according to Muslim belief, an
agent of divine action.1 Home

26. Louis XIVLouis XIV
Absolute King of France
Claimed to rule through Divine
Right
Taxed people and spent money on
himself - Art, Palace of Versailles,
War, etc
France later becomes bankrupt,
which sparks French Revolution
under the rule of Louis XVI

27. John LockeJohn Locke
Enlightenment Thinker who wrote
Two Treaties of Government
Natural Rights – Life, Liberty, and
Property
Right to overthrow government if
King does not protect Natural
Rights
Led to American and French
Revolution

28. Otto vonOtto von
BismarckBismarck
Prussian Chancellor who united
Germany using “Blood and Iron”
Nationalist Leader
Changed the Balance of Power in
Europe and began militarism in
Europe
Led to WWI

29. Karl MarxKarl Marx
Wrote Communist Manifesto
Challenged Laissez-Faire
Capitalism
Led to Vladimir Lenin and
Russian Communist Revolution
Led to Cold War between Soviet
Union and USA 1947-1991

30. GandhiGandhi
The political and spiritual leader of
India during the Indian independence
movement.
He pioneered satyagraha—resistance to
tyranny through mass civil
disobedience, a philosophy firmly
founded upon ahimsa or total
nonviolence. (Salt March, Homespun
Movement, Quit India)
Gandhi is commonly known around
the world as Mahatma Gandhi or
"Great Soul."

31. Emperor MeijiEmperor Meiji
Emperor of Japan – came to
power after Commodore Matthew
Perry ended Tokugawa isolation
Modernized Japan – influenced by
United States and Europe
Led to Japan becoming an
Imperial power in the East and the
invasion of Manchuria and start
of WWII (Pearl Harbor)

32. William Shakespeare, English
dramatist and poet, was author of
the most widely admired and
influential body of literature by any
individual in the history of Western
civilization. His work comprises 36
plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative
poems.
His writings showcased an array of
human emotions and situations that
still influence theater and film today.
William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

33. Charles DarwinCharles Darwin
Charles Darwin achieved
lasting fame by producing
considerable evidence that
species originated through
evolutionary change, at the
same time proposing the
scientific theory that natural
selection is the mechanism by
which such change occurs. This
theory is now considered a
cornerstone of biology.

35. John LockeJohn LockeMuhammadMuhammad

36. MuhammadMuhammad Louis XIVLouis XIV

37. John LockeJohn LockeSiddhartha GuatamaSiddhartha Guatama

38. Jesus ChristJesus Christ Louis XIVLouis XIV

39. Emperor MeijiEmperor MeijiJesus ChristJesus Christ

40. Sir Isaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton Genghis KhanGenghis Khan

41. Genghis KhanGenghis KhanKarl MarxKarl Marx

42. Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus Otto von BismarckOtto von Bismarck

43. Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus Sir Isaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton

44. GandhiGandhiOtto von BismarckOtto von Bismarck

45. Martin LutherMartin Luther NapoleonNapoleon

46. Martin LutherMartin Luther
Johann GutenbergJohann Gutenberg

47. Joseph StalinJoseph StalinNapoleonNapoleon

48. ConfuciusConfucius Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin

49. Adolph HitlerAdolph HitlerWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

50. William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare Siddhartha GuatamaSiddhartha Guatama

51. Johann GutenbergJohann Gutenberg Adolph HitlerAdolph Hitler

52. Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei ConfuciusConfucius