The 100 Most Important People in Ancient History
41. Thales of Miletus (624-546 B.C.):
Thales was one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Aristotle considered him the first true Greek philosopher. What set him apart were his attempts to explain the world without referring to myth or religion. His focus on the observable and rejection of mythology set the basis for the scientific method. Additionally, he was the first to develop hypotheses resulting in his designation as “the father of science.”
42. Demosthenes (384-322 B.C.):
Demosthenes perfected the art of rhetoric and made his first speeches in 354 B.C. Macedonian expansionism motivated the rhetorician into politics. He openly opposed Philip of Macedon and tried to sound the alarm in Athens. Demosthenes’ efforts to blunt Philip failed and Athens fell. After Philip’s death, he led a revolt against Alexander. This too failed and Demosthenes became an enemy of Macedon. He committed suicide rather than surrender to Alexander.
43. Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.):
Hippocrates is the “father of Western medicine.” He established medicine as a discipline separate philosophy and other fields. In particular, he accumulated medical knowledge and established clinical medicine in which doctors diagnose and treat patients. The Hippocratic Oath is a nod to the Greek physician.
Galen was the foremost medical researcher in the west until the Renaissance. His work led to advances in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Much of work stood as the basis of medicine for fifteen hundred years.
45. Philip of Macedon (382-336 B.C.):
Alexander the Great’s father established the battle hardened army and tactics his son later used to conquer the world. Philip enjoyed military success at an early age creating an empire. The Macedonian Empire filled the void left by the collapse of Sparta and Athens in the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War. As Alexander reached adulthood, Philip impregnated another woman leading to some questions as to succession. Rumors persist that Alexander’s mother, Olympia, assassinated him to save her son and his throne. Whether she was behind the murder or not, Philip’s assassination led to Alexander’s ascension.
46. Claudius (10-54):
Claudius suffered from a limp and grew up sickly. As a result, his family rejected him. His health problems saved him from Tiberius and Caligula’s purges because they did not feel Claudius posed a threat. When the Praetorians assassinated Caligula, they proclaimed him emperor. The new emperor proved efficient as he expanded the empire’s borders and engaged in a number of major building projects. Claudius also conquered Britain.
47. Hadrian (76-138):
Hadrian’s reign spelled the symbolic end of the Roman Empire’s expansion. He was an able administrator and re-built the Pantheon. As emperor, he traveled to every province. In Britain, he constructed Hadrian’s Wall splitting the island in two between civilization and the barbarians. A few decades later, the empire collapsed for the first time.
48. Diocletian (244-311):
The Roman Empire collapsed following Commodus’ reign. After nearly a century of turmoil, Diocletian restored order. He split the empire in two with four emperors to administer. He also reformed the military to combat the new political and geographic realities. Additionally, he attempted to restore the economy. In this, he failed. Before retiring, he launched the last major persecution of Christians. Following Diocletian’s retirement and death, his reforms collapsed and the empire fell into civil war.
49. Guangwu of Han (5 B.C.-57 A.D.):
Guangwu restored the Han Dynasty in 25 making him the founder of the Later Han Dynasty. By the time of his death, all of China came under one government for the first time. The emperor himself planned military strategy leading to dramatic successes. The Han Dynasty lasted until 220 A.D.
50. Herodotus (484-425 B.C.):
Herodotus is the “Father of History.” He was the first to collect data, test their veracity, and interpret the data into a narrative. He called his work “inquiry” which later translated into “history.” Despite this, Herodotus sometimes exaggerated or reported erroneous data. However, this is probably to be expected from someone investigated events 2500 years ago.
FROM NATIONAL EXAMINER.COM
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