1200-1450
Who is Genghis Khan and what did he do?
Founder of the Mongol Empire, he unified nomadic tribes and established the largest contiguous empire in history, facilitating trade and cultural exchange across Eurasia
Italian explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic opened the Americas to European colonization, initiating widespread cultural and biological exchanges
Christopher Columbus
Who is Charles Darwin and what did he do?
English naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection, profoundly impacting biological sciences
German dictator whose aggressive expansionism led to World War 2 and the Holocaust
Adolf Hitler
40th President of the US; known for his hardline stance against communism, economic reforms, and role in ending the Cold War
Ronald Reagan
Venetian merchant whose travels to Asia and detailed accounts introduced Europeans to Central Asia and China, influencing future exploration
Marco Polo
Who is Martin Luther and what did he do?
German theologian who initiated the Protestant Reformation, challenging the Catholic Church's practices and doctrines
Japanese emperor who presided over the Meiji Restoration, a period of rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan
Meiji Emperor
Who is Woodrow Wilson and what did he do?
28th president of the US, known for his leadership during World War 1 and his advocacy for the League of Nations
Who is Ho Chi Minh and what did he do?
Vietnamese revolutionary leader who fought for independence from France and later led north Vietnam during the Vietnam War
Who is Zheng He and what did he do?
Chinese admiral who led several maritime expeditions, expanding China's influence and trade networks across the Indian Ocean
Mughal emperor who expanded the empire and promoted religious tolerance, administrative reforms, and cultural advancements
Akbar the Great
Who is Karl Marx and what did he do?
German philosopher and economist, co-author of "The Communist Manifesto", whose ideas laid the foundation for modern socialism and communism
Led the Cuban Revolution and ruled Cuba as a communist state for decades, becoming a central figure in the Cold War and US-Cuba tensions
Fidel Castro
Last leader of the Soviet Union, known for introducing glasnost and perestroika, leading to the USSR's collapse
Mikhail Gorbachev
Moroccan explorer who traveled extensively across the Islamic world and beyond, documenting diverse cultures and societies
Ibn Battuta
Who is Peter the great and what did he do?
Russian tsar who modernized the Russian state and military, and expanded its influence in Europe
French Enlightenment writer and philosopher known for his advocacy of civil liberties and criticism of religious dogma
Voltaire
Who is Joseph Stalin and what did he do?
Soviet leader who industrialized the USSR and led it during World War 2, known for his totalitarian regime and purges
Who is John Locke and what did he do?
English philosopher who advanced for natural rights and government by consent, influencing Enlightenment thought
Who is Pope Urban the 2nd and what did he do?
Initiated the First Crusade, calling Christians to reclaim the Holy Land, which had lasting religious and political impacts
Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea, opening new trade routes
Vasco da Gama
Who is Toussaint Louverture and what did they do?
Leader of the Haitian Revolution, which led to the first successful slave revolt and the establishment of Haiti as an independent nation
Leader of the Chinese Communist party who established the People's Republic of China in 1949
Mao Zedong
Portuguese prince who sponsored early voyages of exploration along the African coast, laying the groundwork for the Age of Discovery
Prince Henry the Navigator