Top 10 Times One Person Changed History FOREVER

#10: Sun Yat-sen

One of modern Chinas founding fathers was Sun Yat-sen. Born in Guangdong, he spent his life fighting for democracy. This eventually led to the overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911, which Sun is credited with, despite being in Colorado. For the first time in thousands of years, China was free from imperial rule. Sun Yat-sen then formed a provisional government and became Chinas first and last democratically elected president. It didnt last long, unfortunately, with a warlord taking over, leading to decades of civil war. Despite its failure, without his efforts, China might still be a dynasty. Fascinatingly, both governments in Taipei and Beijing consider him a hero, an incredible feat.

#9: Rosa Parks

One of the greatest heroes of the civil rights movement was Rosa Parks. In 1955, while riding a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, the driver demanded she give up her seat. At the time, Alabama had strict rules about racial segregation, called the Jim Crow laws. This meant that legally, Parks had to give up her seat for white passengers. Her refusal got her arrested, which motivated the public to boycott local buses. A year later, segregation on buses was abolished in Montgomery. Now, shes become an inspirational figure globally, earning a reputation as the mother of the civil rights movement.

#8: Martin Luther

The Protestant Reformation was one of the largest splits in religious history. It was primarily triggered by Martin Luther, due to his disagreements with the Catholic Church. At the time, you could pay the Pope for forgiveness for sins, a practice called indulgences. Luther instead believed the Bible was the ultimate authority, not the Pope or his institution. Catholicism was famously challenged when Luther publicized his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, prompting the Pope to excommunicate him. This religious divide resulted in centuries of conflict, causing immense death and suffering across Europe. Now, there are millions of Protestants worldwide, making it Christianitys second most popular denomination.

#7: Alexander Fleming

Have you ever accidentally stumbled upon revolutionary medicine? This is what happened to Alexander Fleming in 1928. Its since been labelled the single greatest victory ever achieved over disease. It was discovered after Fleming botched an experiment. One of his cultures became contaminated accidentally, which caused mould to grow. This mould turned out to be an amazingly effective antibiotic. Now a minor wound getting infected is no longer a death sentence. By the 1940s, it was being used to treat millions of people. Unfortunately, a lot of bacteria are now becoming immune to penicillin, but modern science is optimistic about solving this soon.

#6: Leonardo da Vinci

Da Vinci was one of historys most prolific polymaths, which in simple terms means he was remarkably talented. One of his most famous works was the Mona Lisa, now on display in the Louvre. He wasnt just a painter; he was also a sculptor, engineer, architect, and scientist. This made him one of the leading figures of the Renaissance. This was all despite most of his works being left unfinished. Da Vinci also theorised flying machines and armored fighting vehicles, centuries before they were a reality. His influence can still be felt today, making him one of the greatest artists to ever live.

#5: Nelson Mandela

In 1994, South Africa held their first election after implementing universal suffrage. This led to Nelson Mandela becoming their first black president. Decades prior, he had begun fighting against apartheid, an inhumane system of racial segregation. Unfortunately, this got him arrested in 1962, and he spent 27 years in prison. Global pressure got him finally freed in 1990, then elected 4 years later. Now, hes remembered as one of democracys greatest heroes. All across the world, you can find tributes to Mandela. This has made him one of the most celebrated figures in history, which he is more than deserving of.

#4: Marie Curie

Only one person in history has won a Nobel Prize in two separate scientific fields, which is Marie Curie. Without her, we would know substantially less about radiation. Together with her husband, they discovered and named radioactivity. Curie was originally from Poland, which inspired the name for polonium, a radioactive element she discovered. She also did monumental research into X-rays, which are now an essential tool in medicine. In the end, she was killed by her own discoveries. Her constant radiation exposure led her to develop aplastic anemia. Now, her remains reside in the Panthéon in Paris, alongside huge figures like Voltaire and Victor Hugo.

#3: Mahatma Gandhi

Britains rule over the Indian subcontinent was started by the East India Company, until the Crown realized giving a company control over millions wasnt ideal. So they took over directly. India eventually gained independence in 1947, after years of hard work from figures like Gandhi. He achieved this relatively peacefully, promoting non-violent campaigns. This decision worked remarkably well, and also inspired countless activists like Martin Luther King Jr. One of Gandhis core beliefs was religious pluralism, which promoted the toleration of all faiths. This ultimately led to his death in 1948, when a Hindu nationalist tragically assassinated him.

#2: Isaac Newton

Arguably the greatest physicist who ever lived, in 1687, Newton published the monumental Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. In it, he provided a remarkable description of gravity. This is still considered one of the most important moments in scientific history. Additionally, he built incredible telescopes, pioneered a theory of color, and invented calculus. Newton is arguably the first modern scientist, employing a refined version of the scientific method. Interestingly, a lot of his best work was done during a plague epidemic. It forced Cambridge University to close, and then Newton became increasingly creative with experiments at home.

#1: Napoleon Bonaparte

Imagine being so influential that more than 12 years of wars get named after you. The French Revolution kicked off in 1789, which caused the rest of Europe to declare war on France. During this time, a Corsican commander rose through the military ranks. Eventually, he managed to coup the French Directory, named himself First Consul, then later Emperor. The French people loved Napoleon so much, they didnt complain about him bringing back monarchism. After his defeats in both 1814 and 1815, France became a Kingdom again. By that point, Napoleons huge changes were so ingrained in French society, most couldnt be undone.

Were there any particularly influential individuals we forgot to mention? Let us know in the comments!