Okay, I was thinking that this could maybe go in the debate section but I put it here.

Here's my question: Who are the 5 most influential people in the history of mankind?

They can be good or bad, so long as they've influenced the world. In other words, who's changed the Earth the most? Put them in some kind of order, and give brief reasons. This was done when I was here about 2 years ago so I thought I'd do it again. Sorry if it has been done recently.

Here are mine:

1. Jesus Christ - the most influential person the Earth has ever seen. Over 1/3 of everyone on this Earth follow his teachings and whether you believe that he was the son of God or not is up to you. Most countries' laws have been based on his teachings and has influenced nearly every culture and society, as well as having many branched religions stemming from Jesus. Although he didn't invent a belief in God, I suppose I am using him as a figurehead. He has also influenced Islam, where they believe him to be a major prophet.
2. Muhammed - the central figure of Islam. There are just as many muslims as there are christians. The faith has influenced every country and society. Again, Muhammed didn't create the faith of Islam, but he is the central figure. The religion has influenced the laws of most middle-eastern countries and the ideologies have stemmed wars. A big influence on the Earth.
3. Charles Darwin - although a recent change, his is maybe just as influential as Jesus'. He showed us that there is an alternative to the Bible, one which many, many people have followed. He turned Biology entirely flat on its face and his legacy lives on.
4. Isaac Newton - his influence wasn't just his major breakthrough in physics (gravity). He was a mathematician, philosopher, scientist and theologian. His book on Maths is regarded as the most important book in the history of science. He also created the basis for modern engineering and understood the physical Universe which has shaped modern physics.
5. Karl Marx - the father of Communism. His change was one in which he showed the world an alternative to the exploitation of the poor, that being Communism. Although some argue that there has never been such a thing as a Communist state, it has been tried again and again. It completely changed Russia and China, two of the world's largest countries and has started many wars. Although it has failed in many states, this concept has influenced every country in some way.


So, there's my list, a mixture of religion, science and a smidge of politics.

Now it's your turn.

obviously martin luther king for obvious reasons.

MLK changed the US mainly. And although you want it to be true, the US ain't the world.

i'm from the uk friend.

Why is he one of the most influential people in the history of the Earth, then? He changed US society forever, although he didn't have so many global implications apart from the media footage which was shown to the rest of the world about how bad the segregation was.

Dunno, probably some Greek guy from ancient history.
In more recent history I'm guess Marx for the wars caused by communism, but that influence didn't last long.

i'm not in the mood to argue this someone else do it better because i'll make a fool of myself.

I would rate Gutenberg, Edison, Constantine, Hammurabi, John Locke, and Newton all above Darwin. As cool as his ideas were, and as much as they changed biology, I can't rate him that high.

My list would go:

Muhammad
Gutenberg
Jesus
Edison
Newton
...
PROFIT!

The reason for Muhammad as #1 instead of Jesus is because Muhammad's teachings are followed much more closely than Jesus's are.

EDIT: And also, Marx shouldn't even be anywhere in the top 20 because of multiple reasons.
1. His ideas are dieing. In 200 years kids probably won't even learn his name in history classrooms if we continue at this rate.
2. Marx's ideas were just an economic theory. He didn't care about politics at all. The Communist dictators that rose warped Marx's ideas.

Someone from the Romans - they invented roads and lots of other things we use (including some of the English Language).

Quote from Kaas

Dunno, probably some Greek guy from ancient history.
In more recent history I'm guess Marx for the wars caused by communism, but that influence didn't last long.

Quote from Fluxinator

Someone from the Romans - they invented roads and lots of other things we use (including some of the English Language).

Hey, here's an idea: If you don't know the person's name, THEY PROBABLY WERE NOT VERY INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE!

This thread was designed for specific people, not just "whoever invented fire" or other vague people.

Quote from Dragon⁰⁷⁷

Hey, here's an idea: If you don't know the person's name, THEY PROBABLY WERE NOT VERY INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE!

This thread was designed for specific people, not just "whoever invented fire" or other vague people.

So because WE don't know their name they weren't influencial.... poor choice :')

But I'll then just hit the spot with Socrates, and Plato, but mainly Socrates because he pretty much educated Plato (who later educated Aristoteles).

Quote from Kaas

So because WE don't know there name they weren't influencial.... poor choice :')

But I'll then just hit the spot with Socrates, and Plato, but mainly Socrates because he pretty much educated Plato (who later educated Aristoteles).

A real poor choice of words is you when you said: "probably some greek guy from ancient history"

Oh yeah. Some Greek guy. He was really influential.

Quote from Dragon⁰⁷⁷

A real poor choice of words is you when you said: "probably some greek guy from ancient history"

Oh yeah. Some Greek guy. He was really influential.

We where vague, I'll give you that, but if we don't know the names that doesn't make them not influential ^^

Like how I just named a few Greek philosophers. I'm betting that Socrates had someone he learned from too, since that was part of their tradition, but I'm not able to name him.
But I'll just rephrase my first post then.


I think Socrates was one of the most influential people in history.

Hitler definately changed the world a lot. In a negative way, though.

1.) Winston churchill
2.) Jesus [SIZE="1"](debatable)[/SIZE]
3.) George Bush
4.) Emporer Cluadius [SIZE="1"](invented money)[/SIZE]
5.) Barac Obama [SIZE="1"](I can see good thing form him coming)[/SIZE]

or for you fatties out there... Ronald Macdonald