20 Of The Most Significant People In History

Which individuals have been the most significant, and influential, people in history? While this question is obviously up for debate, and does have some room for interpretation, historians have attempted to come up with the answer. They ranked the top 100 most significant people in history for their overall affect, good or bad, on human history. After weighting for a factor of time, Justin Bieber may be more popular than Aristotle today but weighting for the fact that Aristotle’s ideas are still popular after thousands of years, he comes out ahead. This process led to a very strong list of arguably the most significant people in history. Here are the top 20.

Christopher Columbus

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, thus launching European colonization of the Americas that would take place for over 400 years following his voyage. Columbus comes in at number 20 on our list due to this massive exodus he essentially started when he sought a new trade route to India.

Albert Einstein

Long associated with genius the world over, theoretical physicist Albert Einstein was the German-born creator of what has become known as the Theory of Relativity. His ideas have influenced our understanding of the entire universe and, if that weren’t enough, have yielded inventions like the atomic bomb.

Joseph Stalin

One of history’s great tyrants, Joseph Stalin’s significance is derived from his status as the leader of the Soviet Union from the 1920 until his death in 1953. Not only did he lead the Soviet Union with an iron fist during its rise to power as a nation, he was also a key player in World War II, thus setting up his nations rivalry with the United States in the decades following the second World War.

Martin Luther

By nailing his Ninety-Five Theses to the wall of a local church, Luther set in motion what has become known as the Protestant Reformation. This movement, which began in the 1517, was the first real challenge to the authority of the Catholic Church which had, in Luther’s view, become corrupt. Regardless of your own beliefs, Luther’s significance cannot be disputed as he essentially founded the Lutheran and Protestant denominations of Christianity.

Queen Victoria

One of the longest ruling monarchs in history, Queen Victoria of Great Britain ruled from 1837 until her death in 1901, inheriting the throne at 18 following the death of her father, Prince Edward. Her rule, which spanned 63 years, was known as the Victorian era for her influence in national and global affairs.

Julius Caesar

Is it any wonder that Julius Caesar found his way onto our list in the number 15 spot? Ruling as the Roman Republic’s dictator from 49 BC to 44 BC, a relatively short time, Caesar nevertheless made his mark on history. Due to his success as a military leader, which expanded the Roman Empire as far north as Great Britain, he was able to consolidate his power and declare himself Emperor – that is until he was betrayed by the Roman Senate.

Karl Marx

The world would truly be a different place had Karl Marx never written his Communist Manifesto. A philosopher, economist and, eventually, revolutionary socialist, Karl Marx advocated for the communal ownership of the means of production. His philosophy influenced numerous countries, including the Soviet Union, and fueled one of the great political discords of the 20th century.

Elizabeth I of England

Known as the “Virgin Queen” Elizabeth never married or bore children, thus making her the last of the Tudors to rule England. Despite this fact, Elizabeth will always be remembered for her strength as a leader and the heights England reached under her rule.

Charles Darwin

A great deal of what we know about the biological world today is owed, in large part, to one man: Charles Darwin. His findings on how all living things change and evolve over time, first published in his book On the Origin of Species, have heavily influenced our understanding of how the world works and earns Darwin a spot at number 12 on our list.

Henry VIII of England

Ruling England from 1509 until his death in 1547, Henry VIII comes in at number 11 on our list of most significant people. Not only did he rule England, one of the major powers of the day, but he led the separation of England from the Roman Catholic Church and created the Church of England – with the Monarch as the figurehead.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson finds himself on this list of significant people, not because he was the Third President of the United States of America but because he was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Perhaps one of history’s most important documents, it was not only an indictment of the monarchies of the old world, but an endorsement of the idea that we are all created equal, and that each one of us possesses inalienable rights that no government should be able to take away.

Alexander the Great

When discussing significant leaders, people that touched the lives of millions for generations, it’s hard to pass over Alexander the Great. Ascending to the throne as ruler of Greece in 336 BC after the death of his father, Alexander immediately engaged in numerous military campaigns throughout Asia, Northern Africa, and as far as India. His skill as a military commander, which allowed him to remain undefeated, led to the creation of one of the largest Empire’s in all of human history.

Aristotle

Living over 2,300 years ago, Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist. Studying under the philosopher Plato, Aristotle’s writings on Physics, Geology, and Politics influenced countless civilizations throughout history, thus earning Aristotle a spot as the 8th most significant person in history.

Adolf Hitler

Perhaps history’s greatest maniacal tyrant, Adolf Hitler was responsible for millions of deaths as the leader of Germany in the years leading up to and during World War II. Despite this fact, his historical influence cannot be debated. He tried to exterminate an entire people in his quest to take over Europe and beyond. One of history’s greatest monsters, Hitler is significant because of how different the world would be had he not risen to power.

George Washington

Not only was George Washington the United States’ first President, he did what few have ever successfully done: took on the British Empire in combat and won. As the Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, Washington not only led the young nation to victory but acted as a calming force during the early days of the Republic, earning him the rank of 6th most significant person in history.

Abraham Lincoln

Considered by many to be the United States’ greatest President, Abraham Lincoln comes in number 5 on this list. As America’s leader during its darkest hour, when the nation was nearly torn in two during the Civil War, Lincoln’s resolute belief that the Union needed to be preserved at all costs was pivotal. It’s hard to imagine the world we would live in today had Lincoln’s steadfast leadership not been there during America’s bloodiest conflict.

William Shakespeare

Perhaps history’s most influential writer and playwright, William Shakespeare comes in at number 4 on our list of most influential people. He is responsible for numerous, timeless works including Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear. Though he wrote his plays over 400 years ago, they have stood the test of time, making William Shakespeare the 4th most significant person in history.

Muhammad

As a religious prophet, born in the Arabian City of Mecca around 570, Muhammad is the founder of the Islamic religion. Muslims believe that their religions’ sacred text, the Koran, contains the words of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. If that wasn’t enough, Muhammad was also a political leader as well, one that united numerous Arabian tribes for the first time. With over 1.57 billion modern day adherents to the religion Muhammad founded, it’s no wonder he comes in at number 3 on this list.

Napoleon

Everyone who paid attention in history class has heard of Napoleon Bonaparte – the French military leader who rose to the level of Emperor of France from 1804 to 1814. Few have been as influential in history as Napoleon, thanks in part to the simple fact that he dominated European affairs for 20 years. This, coupled with his military genius, made him a formidable leader and the second most significant person in history.

Jesus

Is it any wonder that Jesus of Nazareth came in at number 1 on our list of most significant people in human history? Regardless of your religious beliefs, one cannot deny Jesus’ magnetic draw as a leader. That, coupled with the simple fact that the world has over 2.18 billion estimated Christians following Jesus’ teachings, and you have the ingredients for history’s most influential individual.