Alexander the Great was a Macedonian king and military genius who conquered the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, the Middle East, and parts of Asia in an astonishing short period of time. After his death in 323 BCE Alexander's campaigns became legendary which influenced the tactics and careers of later Greek and Roman generals. The world recognizes him as one of its most famous historical figures.
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Aristotle:
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle the scientist established modern logic as his founding work. He established most of western philosophy together with Socrates and Plato. The period of his death in 322 BCE still allows him to remain one of history's greatest intellectuals.
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Jesus:
Jesus died in 30 or 33 CE, still only in his 30s. The central figure of Christianity Jesus Christ who millions believe to be the Incarnation of God presents himself as one of the most respected religious leaders throughout human history.
Marco Polo:
The Venetian merchant Marco Polo and the adventurer Marco Polo traveled through Asia and Europe between the years 1271 and 1295 while mostly using the Silk Road. The Travels of Marco Polo documents his travels to various locations. The 1300 publication presented itself as one of the earliest travel books in existence which explained to European readers the unknown cultural practices and internal systems of the Eastern world.
Leonardo da Vinci:
Leonardo da Vinci achieved immense fame and impact as an Italian polymath who worked across multiple disciplines during the High Renaissance. The inventor created his designs for flying machines and armored vehicles and hydraulic systems more than 600 years before their actual time.
Vasco da Gama:
The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama became the first European explorer to reach India through ocean travel when he accomplished this journey in 1498. His daring sea expeditions established the profitable spice trade but they also created the first period of worldwide cultural exchange through ocean routes.
Christopher Columbus:
The Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus became equally famous for his four Atlantic Ocean expeditions from Spain which he conducted in 1492 1493 1498 and 1502. The expeditions established a new route which allowed European powers to explore and colonize the first celebrities in the world.
Martin Luther:
German priest and theologian Martin Luther was the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. His theological beliefs resulted in the division of Western Christendom between Roman Catholicism and the new Protestant traditions. He stands as one of the most powerful Christian leaders who ever lived.
Galileo Galilei:
Galileo Galilei who was born in 1564 created the first microscope and built the first version of the thermometer. Galileo became famous because he developed a better telescope system which enabled him to become the first observational astronomer to use it.
William Shakespeare:
The world would lose many excellent plays if Shakespeare had never existed. Shakespeare stands as the greatest English writer and the world's foremost playwright who became the first major celebrity in entertainment history.
Rembrandt:
Rembrandt who belongs to the group of most respected Dutch painters from the 17th century stands as one of the top visual artists throughout all periods of artistic history. His artworks which exist today achieve auction prices that reach millions of dollars.
Isaac Newton:
According to legend, Isaac Newton developed his gravitational theory during 1665 or 1666 after an apple fell on his head. The scientist achieved great success from this experience because he successfully created three laws of motion which include Newton's Law of Inertia and Newton's Law of Acceleration and Newton's Law of Action and Reaction.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
At the age of five, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart showed his extraordinary talent as a child prodigy by performing at concert halls. The Austrian composer died at age 35, yet his status as one of the greatest Western composers remained established before his premature death.
George Washington:
As a Founding Father and first president of the United States George Washington demonstrated both exceptional character and leadership abilities. The presidential office which he created through his work became the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution because of Washington's two-term limit which extended until 1951. YouGov research shows that he ranks as America's second most popular president after Abraham Lincoln.
Bert Williams and George Walker:
Bert Williams and George Walker are perhaps the most famous African American entertainers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who gained popularity with both black and white audiences. And while their names may not be familiar to many, they remain two of the first celebrities in the world.
