The people who influenced history the most, the “movers and shakers” from ancient times until today, have one thing in common: they challenged the status quo. By and large, they were rebels who were willing to take on established norms and traditions.

American history is littered with names of great people. But what about the lesser-known people who shaped American history? Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s principal plantation and Neoclassical Palladian hilltop mansion near Charlottesville, Virginia, is one of America’s most iconic historic buildings.

Plato ranks among history’s most influential figures, and for over two millennia has been one of the world’s most widely read and studied philosophers. In addition to his writings, he founded the Western World’s first institution of higher learning, The Academy in Athens.

Here are just seventeen remarkable figures from history whose sexual identity defined them as transgender. 16. Elagabalus: The Unsuccessful Roman Emperor who wanted to become an Empress.

History gives us plenty of examples of individuals sacrificing themselves so that others – even strangers – might live. But whole villages? Such cases of collective selflessness are rare indeed.

1. Caravaggio, one of history’s greatest artists, is suspected of being a manic depressive. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) was amongst the greatest painters of the Italian Renaissance.

Indeed, the modern-day borders between Turkey, Iran and Iraq were largely drawn up during Muran’s reign, making him one of the most important teenagers in world history. In the early 17 th century, the Ottoman Empire was beset with intrigue and competition.

The real, often hardscrabble and desperate lives of the people of the region, and their contributions to American society and history are often buried beneath these myths. Here for consideration are some facets of America’s Appalachian culture, both mythical and factual.

In the United Kingdom, Oliver Cromwell is considered to be one of the most important statesmen in English history. But a lot of people like to forget about the Drogheda Massacre, which happened in Ireland in 1649. At the time, England and Ireland were engaged in …

The pages of the diary, written by a free black woman, feature some of the most important events in American history. Plus, they also give a unique insight into American society at the time, including the underlying threat of violence and the prevalence of racism.