Summary
- • Jesus Christ is ranked as the most influential person in history according to a 2013 study
- • Muhammad is ranked as the second most influential person in history
- • Isaac Newton is ranked as the third most influential person in history
- • Buddha is ranked as the fourth most influential person in history
- • Confucius is ranked as the fifth most influential person in history
- • Paul the Apostle is ranked as the sixth most influential person in history
- • Ts'ai Lun, inventor of paper, is ranked as the seventh most influential person in history
- • Christopher Columbus is ranked as the eighth most influential person in history
- • Albert Einstein is ranked as the ninth most influential person in history
- • Louis Pasteur is ranked as the tenth most influential person in history
- • Galileo Galilei is ranked as the 12th most influential person in history
- • Aristotle is ranked as the 13th most influential person in history
- • Euclid is ranked as the 14th most influential person in history
- • Moses is ranked as the 15th most influential person in history
- • Charles Darwin is ranked as the 16th most influential person in history
Move over Kardashians, theres a new ranking in town! According to a 2013 study, Jesus Christ has been crowned the most influential person in history, beating out Muhammad, Isaac Newton, Buddha, and a whole list of heavy hitters. It seems even the likes of Albert Einstein and Alexander the Great have to take a backseat to the Son of God. Lets dive into this intriguing list to see who made the cut and who just missed out on the podium spots of historical significance.
Artists and Writers
- William Shakespeare is ranked as the 31st most influential person in history
- Ludwig van Beethoven is ranked as the 45th most influential person in history
- Michelangelo is ranked as the 50th most influential person in history
Interpretation
Well, it seems that even the most creative minds in history have to settle for rankings when it comes to influence. William Shakespeare, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Michelangelo may not have made the top 10, but they've secured their spots in the top 50 with their lasting impact on art and culture. Who needs first place when you've got timeless sonnets, symphonies that stir the soul, and sculptures that defy gravity? Shakespeare may not have been the King of England, but he certainly reigns supreme in the realm of literature, while Beethoven's melodies continue to echo through the ages, and Michelangelo's masterpieces stand as monuments to human achievement. Hats (or ruffs, wigs, and berets) off to these creative titans who have left an indelible mark on the world.
Explorers and Conquerors
- Christopher Columbus is ranked as the eighth most influential person in history
- Genghis Khan is ranked as the 29th most influential person in history
- Alexander the Great is ranked as the 33rd most influential person in history
- Francisco Pizarro is ranked as the 62nd most influential person in history
- Hernando Cortes is ranked as the 63rd most influential person in history
Interpretation
While these rankings might suggest that conquering new lands held more weight in history than say, inventing the wheel or penicillin, they also reveal a peculiar fascination with individuals who were exceptionally good at introducing themselves to new cultures by force. It seems like the key to influence in history lies not just in discovery, but in the audacity to name things after yourself once you get there. Perhaps if Pizarro had patented the Incas and Cortes had trademarked the Aztecs, their rankings would be higher.
Philosophers and Thinkers
- Confucius is ranked as the fifth most influential person in history
- Aristotle is ranked as the 13th most influential person in history
- Karl Marx is ranked as the 27th most influential person in history
- Adam Smith is ranked as the 30th most influential person in history
- Plato is ranked as the 40th most influential person in history
- John Locke is ranked as the 44th most influential person in history
- Rene Descartes is ranked as the 49th most influential person in history
Interpretation
In a world where lists supposedly hold the key to greatness, it appears that influence can range from ancient wisdom to modern revolutions. Confucius, Aristotle, Karl Marx, Adam Smith, Plato, John Locke, and René Descartes form a philosophical rollercoaster of thought that has shaped our understanding of the human experience. As they jostle for position in the annals of history, one thing is clear: the impact of these individuals transcends time and borders, stirring the minds of both the past and the present in a symphony of ideas that continue to resonate through the ages.
Political Leaders
- Shih Huang Ti, first emperor of China, is ranked as the 17th most influential person in history
- Augustus Caesar is ranked as the 18th most influential person in history
- Constantine the Great is ranked as the 21st most influential person in history
- George Washington is ranked as the 26th most influential person in history
- Napoleon Bonaparte is ranked as the 34th most influential person in history
- Adolf Hitler is ranked as the 39th most influential person in history
- Oliver Cromwell is ranked as the 41st most influential person in history
- Simon Bolivar is ranked as the 48th most influential person in history
- Asoka is ranked as the 53rd most influential person in history
- Thomas Jefferson is ranked as the 64th most influential person in history
- Queen Isabella I of Spain is ranked as the 65th most influential person in history
Interpretation
In a world where influence is measured not by the length of one's reign, but by the lasting impact of their actions, these historical rankings serve as a reminder that power is not solely defined by conquest or territories ruled. From the fierce ambitions of emperors and conquerors to the visionary leaders who shaped nations and paved the path for change, these individuals have left an indelible mark on the course of history. Whether through war or diplomacy, tyranny or enlightenment, their legacies continue to echo through the ages, challenging us to reflect on the complexities of power and the enduring consequences of our choices. Ultimately, it is not just about where they are ranked, but the lessons we glean from their stories that truly define their influence and our understanding of the past.
Religious Figures
- Jesus Christ is ranked as the most influential person in history according to a 2013 study
- Muhammad is ranked as the second most influential person in history
- Buddha is ranked as the fourth most influential person in history
- Paul the Apostle is ranked as the sixth most influential person in history
- Moses is ranked as the 15th most influential person in history
- Martin Luther is ranked as the 25th most influential person in history
- Pope Urban II is ranked as the 51st most influential person in history
- Umar ibn al-Khattab is ranked as the 52nd most influential person in history
- St. Augustine is ranked as the 54th most influential person in history
- John Calvin is ranked as the 57th most influential person in history
Interpretation
In the grand scheme of history, it seems that Jesus Christ still holds the top spot as the original influencer, with Muhammad hot on his heels. Buddha, Paul the Apostle, and Moses also make the top ranks, proving that spiritual leaders truly leave a lasting impact. Meanwhile, it appears that Martin Luther, Pope Urban II, Umar ibn al-Khattab, St. Augustine, and John Calvin round out the top 60 most influential individuals, each having played a pivotal role in shaping the world as we know it today. One thing's for sure, these rankings certainly make for some heavenly competition!
Scientists and Inventors
- Isaac Newton is ranked as the third most influential person in history
- Ts'ai Lun, inventor of paper, is ranked as the seventh most influential person in history
- Albert Einstein is ranked as the ninth most influential person in history
- Louis Pasteur is ranked as the tenth most influential person in history
- Galileo Galilei is ranked as the 12th most influential person in history
- Euclid is ranked as the 14th most influential person in history
- Charles Darwin is ranked as the 16th most influential person in history
- Nicolaus Copernicus is ranked as the 19th most influential person in history
- Antoine Laurent Lavoisier is ranked as the 20th most influential person in history
- James Watt is ranked as the 22nd most influential person in history
- Michael Faraday is ranked as the 23rd most influential person in history
- James Clerk Maxwell is ranked as the 24th most influential person in history
- Orville and Wilbur Wright are ranked as the 28th most influential people in history
- John Dalton is ranked as the 32nd most influential person in history
- Thomas Edison is ranked as the 35th most influential person in history
- Antony van Leeuwenhoek is ranked as the 36th most influential person in history
- William T.G. Morton is ranked as the 37th most influential person in history
- Guglielmo Marconi is ranked as the 38th most influential person in history
- Alexander Graham Bell is ranked as the 42nd most influential person in history
- Alexander Fleming is ranked as the 43rd most influential person in history
- Werner Heisenberg is ranked as the 46th most influential person in history
- Louis Daguerre is ranked as the 47th most influential person in history
- William Harvey is ranked as the 55th most influential person in history
- Ernest Rutherford is ranked as the 56th most influential person in history
- Gregor Mendel is ranked as the 58th most influential person in history
- Max Planck is ranked as the 59th most influential person in history
- Joseph Lister is ranked as the 60th most influential person in history
- Nikolaus August Otto is ranked as the 61st most influential person in history
Interpretation
In a list filled with scientific titans and inventors who have shaped our world in immeasurable ways, it's both intriguing and slightly humorous to see Ts'ai Lun, the inventor of paper, nestled among geniuses like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. While we may take paper for granted in our daily lives, its invention revolutionized communication, education, and the spread of knowledge throughout history. Ts'ai Lun's influence, just like his creation, may seem simple on the surface, but it has had profound and lasting effects on human civilization. In a lineup of scientific giants, perhaps it's a gentle reminder that sometimes the simplest ideas can have the most significant impact.
