Historical Figures Throughout the Ages

Historical Figures

Ancient Greece

• Socrates (469/470 BCE - 399 BCE):
  • Athenian philosopher who focused on ethics and politics
  • Developed the Socratic method of questioning
  • Executed by drinking hemlock for "corrupting the youth"
• Alexander the Great (356 BCE - 323 BCE):
  • King of Macedon who conquered a vast portion of the known world
  • Spread Greek culture and language throughout his empire
  • Founded over 70 cities, including Alexandria

Ancient Rome

• Julius Caesar (100 BCE - 44 BCE):
  • Roman general and statesman who transformed the Roman Republic
  • Crossed the Rubicon River, leading to civil war and eventual dictatorship
  • Assassinated by senators on the Ides of March
• Augustus Caesar (63 BCE - 14 CE):
  • Grandnephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar
  • First emperor of the Roman Empire, establishing the Principate
  • Ruled for 41 years, bringing peace and stability to the empire

Medieval Period

• Charlemagne (741 - 814 CE):
  • King of the Franks who united much of Western Europe
  • Promoted education, art, and architecture
  • Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope
• William the Conqueror (1028 - 1087 CE):
  • Duke of Normandy who conquered England in 1066
  • Established a feudal system and introduced Norman culture
  • Commissioned the Domesday Book, a survey of England's land and people

Renaissance and Enlightenment

• Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519 CE):
  • Italian polymath and artist, famous for the Mona Lisa
  • Made groundbreaking discoveries in anatomy, engineering, and mathematics
  • Designed flying machines, armored vehicles, and submarines
• Isaac Newton (1643 - 1727 CE):
  • English physicist and mathematician who developed the laws of motion
  • Discovered the law of universal gravitation
  • Laid the foundation for classical mechanics and optics