The globe has been witness to numerous exceptional brains and masters throughout history. This article aims to present the top ten most outstanding individuals in the world. Without a doubt, these men have left an indelible mark on history. By scrolling down the list, you can discover who holds the title of the best person in the world.
Throughout history, many remarkable men have made significant contributions to the welfare of humanity. To identify the best among them, we turned to Michael H. Hart’s book, “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.” Let’s delve into the list and find out who holds the title of the greatest person on the planet.
Without further ado, here is the much-awaited list of the top 10 greatest men in the world.
1. Buddha
Gautama Buddha is renowned as the Light of Asia.
Buddha’s real name was Siddartha Gautama.
He was an ancient India’s spiritual teacher and philosopher.
Buddhism was founded by him, and he was born in Nepal.
In ancient India, the term buddha had various meanings and was used by different religious organizations.
However, it became closely associated with the Buddhist tradition.
It signified an enlightened being who awakened from ignorance and attained liberation from suffering.
The followers of Buddha, known as Buddhists, propagated the faith now known as Buddhism.
According to many Buddhist traditions, there were Buddhas in the past, and there will be Buddhas in the future.
Some Buddhist schools believe each historical epoch had only one Buddha, while others believe all creatures will eventually become buddhas due to their buddha nature (tathagatagarbha).
2. Muhammad ibn Abdullah
Muhammad ibn Abdullah, a prominent religious, political, and social figure in the Arab world, founded the Muslim faith. As a prophet in Islam, he taught and upheld the monotheistic doctrines of earlier prophets like Adam, Abraham, Jesus, and Moses. All major sects of Islam regard Muhammad as God’s ultimate prophet, though some current denominations hold different views.
He is often considered the most significant individual in history. Muhammad was born in 570 AD in Mecca, now part of Saudi Arabia. Orphaned before birth, he was raised by his grandfather and uncle. Despite belonging to an impoverished yet respected Quraysh family, Meccan politics and trade played a crucial role in their lives.
Muhammad’s life took a significant turn in 622 when he and his followers were compelled to leave Mecca for Medina. He continued his teachings until his death in 632 in Medina.
3. Isaac Newton
Issac Newton was a physicist, natural philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, and theologian.
He was born on Christmas Day, 1642.
In the same year, Galileo Galilei died at Arcetri, near Florence.
Newton later adopted the notion for a mathematical science of motion and completed his work.
Newton faced a challenging start in life, being a tiny and weak baby not expected to survive.
Furthermore, he was born without a father.
Sadly, he lost his mother quickly, as she remarried within two years.
Her husband, a preacher named Barnabas Smith, left little Isaac with his grandmother and relocated to raise his own children.
When Newton arrived at Cambridge in 1661, the Scientific Revolution was already in progress, and many foundational books of contemporary science had been published.
4. Jesus
Christians consider Jesus both a religious leader and a god. They believe him to be God’s Son, the incarnation of God, and the central figure in Christianity. He is highly revered by many Christians, and Christianity stands as the world’s most popular religion.
Over time, “The Jesus chronicles” has become the most widely translated work on the planet, narrating the life of Jesus. His stories, such as the Nativity, are widely known. Around 33% of the world’s population practices the Christian faith, making Jesus the most significant figure in their lives. Islamic countries, accounting for about 21% of the world’s population, also recognize Jesus as the second most important prophet in Islam. This means that Jesus is a vital element in 54% of the world’s religions.
Interestingly, a significant number of atheists and agnostics are familiar with Jesus. Western Civilization is often referred to as “Christian civilization,” and Jesus depictions remain among the most well-known.
5. Confucius
Confucius, a renowned social philosopher and thinker, is credited with the establishment of Confucianism, which had a profound impact on the way people lived and thought in China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Throughout Chinese history, Confucius has been portrayed in various roles, such as a teacher, counselor, editor, philosopher, reformer, and prophet. His name “Confucius” is a Latinized combination of his surname Kong with the honorific suffix “Master” (fuzi), and it has come to symbolize several aspects of traditional East Asian civilization on a global scale.
Born around 551-479 BCE, Confucius grew up in the region of Lu, which was an eastern Chinese state in what is now the central and southern parts of Shandong province. Lu, like other regional states, had historical, cultural, and familial ties to the imperial court of the Zhou dynasty.
During the spring and autumn Period (770-481 BCE), Lu’s connections with the Zhou dynasty’s ruling family dated back to the dynasty’s inception when the relatives of Zhou kings were appointed as leaders of regional states, carrying moral responsibilities.
Confucius’ significance in East Asian history stems from his influence on core beliefs and cultural practices in the region, and he is often considered a precursor of “Eastern” thinking in Early Modern Europe
6. Paul of Tarsus
Paul of Tarsus was a significant Christian apostle and early missionary who played a crucial role in spreading Christianity beyond Palestine, especially among the Romans.
He authored multiple letters in the New Testament, contributing to thirteen of its 27 books. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the Acts of the Apostles focuses on his life and achievements.
Thanks to Paul and those he inspired, nearly half of the New Testament’s content is attributed to their efforts. However, it’s worth noting that only seven out of the thirteen letters can be considered entirely genuine and were directly dictated by Paul himself.
7. CàiLún
CaiLun, a Chinese political officer, was credited with the invention of paper.
He joined the imperial palace staff in 75 CE and later became the head eunuch under Emperor Hedi of the Eastern Han dynasty in 89.
Around the year 105, CaiLun developed a papermaking process using macerated tree bark, hemp waste, old rags, and fishnets.
This resulting paper surpassed the writing quality of pure silk fabric, which was the primary writing surface at that time.
Moreover, the newly invented paper was much more affordable to produce and had abundant sources.
Upon discovering this breakthrough, CaiLun shared his findings with the emperor, who praised him.
In recognition of his accomplishments, CaiLun was appointed as a marquess in 114.
8. Johannes Gutenberg
Johannes Gutenberg, a German printer, is credited with inventing the mechanical printing press in Europe.
His groundbreaking work during the European Printing Revolution marked a significant milestone in history, leading to the modern era.
Gutenberg’s printing machine revolutionized access to books and triggered an “information revolution.”
To create his printing press, he developed a metal alloy that could easily melt and cool quickly, resulting in durable, reusable type.
Additionally, he formulated an oil-based ink that adhered well to metal type and transferred effectively to vellum or paper.
Gutenberg also introduced a new press, possibly adapted from techniques used in wine, oil, or paper production.
These innovations differed greatly from the existing European technologies used for stamping letters or woodblock printing at the time.
9. Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was a sailor and navigator, known as an Italian colonizer too. His expeditions increased European awareness of the Americas.
During the 1990s, various publications about Columbus emerged. Perspectives from archaeologists and anthropologists began to complement those of sailors and historians. This sparked intense discussions and a shift in interpretation, where the pro-European worldview gave way to one shaped by the people of the Americas themselves.
The traditional view hailed Columbus’ “discovery” as a great triumph. He was celebrated as a hero for completing four voyages that brought immense wealth to Spain and other European countries and enabled the colonization of the Americas. However, a more contemporary approach highlights the devastating aspects of European conquest, such as the impact of the slave trade and imported illnesses on indigenous populations in the Caribbean and the American continents. Consequently, the perception of Columbus as a hero has diminished, and many now see him as a flawed man.
Though the second perspective acknowledges Columbus’s honesty and navigational skills, it firmly denies him a position of honor. The issue has attracted involvement from political activists of all stripes, further complicating the reconciliation of these opposing viewpoints.
10. Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein, a renowned scientist worldwide, hailed from Germany. He dedicated his life to theoretical physics. His theory of relativity, which includes the mass-energy equivalency equation E = mc2, left a profound impact on the world. Einstein’s brilliance as a physicist was unparalleled.
Even those unfamiliar with the underlying physics of E = mc2 are aware of its significance in explaining special relativity. Einstein’s contributions extended to the general theory of relativity, shedding light on gravity, and the photoelectric effect, explaining electron behavior in specific conditions. In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Beyond his achievements, Einstein passionately pursued a unified theory, striving to consolidate all of the universe’s forces into one grand explanation—a theory of everything. Tragically, this pursuit continued until his death.
On March 14, 1879, in the city of Ulm, Germany, Einstein was born. Presently, Ulm houses around 120,000 inhabitants and boasts a modest memorial plaque at the site of his former residence, which was destroyed during World War II.
