Mother Theresa

I did rescue the Mushroom Kingdom from the hand of reptilian dictator several times in my youth. Hung up the pipe wrench not long after that.

Not only did I do that but I KO'd Iron Mike Tyson on a regular basis.

Okay Napoleon was a great leader and Military mind...But number 2? In front of Mohamed? No.

I can draw a nearly straight line from any author in the realm of literature in the English language that goes right back to Shakespeare. And probably with the literature in several other languages as well. His works have been imitated, cribbed, copied and parodied in all the centuries since they were published. He forever altered the way the English language was used and the near-universal popularity of the writings served to create a uniform, coherent English language in a way that had never existed before. His collected writings comprise the most influential body of work of any writer... ever.

 

Well, you made an argument for sure. Didn't sway me, I still think he's too high and not sure I would put him top 20, but hey that's just me. As someone else said, where is Da'Vinci? I also believe there were very arguably greater explores than Columbus, so if he's not clear cut in the lead as explores go I don't think he can be that high. Again my opinion.

Okay Napoleon was a great leader and Military mind...But number 2? In front of Mohamed? No.

 

Agree 100%

Okay Napoleon was a great leader and Military mind...But number 2? In front of Mohamed? No.

 

I like this sentiment. I think he deserves to be on the list -- if for nothing else than the influence of the Napoleonic Code and his role in promoting the political philosophy of nationalism (which would come to define European politics for the next century) -- but No.2 is probably a stretch.

Bill Gates has to be on this list, IMO.

Gutenberg? Whatever his first name is. Printing press guy.

 

Edison?

 

Abraham?

 

The more I think about it, Abraham may be the biggest snub. I mean, he is essentially the patriarch of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.

For you Catholics out there...no Pope in the top 20? is that an over site?

Personally I would have to put Willis Carrier somewhere pretty high up on the list.

The more I think about it, Abraham may be the biggest snub. I mean, he is essentially the patriarch of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.

 

Didn't think about it, very true. BUT, was he directly significant I guess would be the question? The family tree he left for sure.

Alan Turing would likely find his way on mine. Certainly the most influential mathematician of the last century, he developed the ACE, among the first designs for a program-storing computer.

For you Catholics out there...no Pope in the top 20? is that an over site?

Pope Urban II? He was a pretty big J.A.

Okay Napoleon was a great leader and Military mind...But number 2? In front of Mohamed? No.

 

I think most people would justify Napoleon as #2 due to the fact that many of the military strategies and tactics are still being taught in Military Academies, War Schools to this day and remnants of his his system of law in France are still seen in much of Europe and other places in the world. We don't see them in the US since our system was more influenced by English Common Law but legal systems similar to Napoleonic Code can be seen else where. When the Pietro Gasparri, a cardinal of the Catholic Church codified Canon Law in 1917. The format was based highly upon the Napoleanic Code.

 

So after saying all this, was Napolean just another dictator who conquered numerous nations, not really. He was probably one of history's greatest military geniuses who completely change war strategy during his time and he implemented a legal system that traces of are still found in legal systems today. So is he definitely #2, no. But is there an argument? I think so.

I like this sentiment. I think he deserves to be on the list -- if for nothing else than the influence of the Napoleonic Code and his role in promoting the political philosophy of nationalism (which would come to define European politics for the next century) -- but No.2 is probably a stretch.

 

You beat me to it.