Who are some historical figures who played an important role in history?

* Macedonian king who conquered a vast empire stretching from Greece to India

* Considered one of the greatest military commanders in history

* Founded the Hellenistic civilization, which blended Greek and Near Eastern cultures

Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE)

* Roman general and statesman who conquered Gaul and Britain

* Became dictator of Rome and began a series of reforms

* Was assassinated by a group of senators

Emperor Augustus (63 BCE-14 CE)

* Caesar's adopted son and successor

* First Roman emperor

* Established the Pax Romana, a period of peace and prosperity that lasted for over 200 years

Constantine the Great (272-337 CE)

* Roman emperor who legalized Christianity

* Founded Constantinople, the new capital of the Roman Empire

* Reorganized the Roman government and military

Muhammad (570-632 CE)

* Arabian prophet who founded Islam

* United the Arabian tribes under a single religion

* His teachings are recorded in the Quran, the Islamic holy book

Genghis Khan (1162-1227 CE)

* Mongol warrior who founded the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous land empire in history

* Conquered vast territories in Asia and Europe

* Known for his cruelty and ruthlessness

Kublai Khan (1215-1294 CE)

* Grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of the Yuan dynasty in China

* Expanded the Mongol Empire into Southeast Asia

* Patronized the arts and sciences

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506 CE)

* Italian explorer who sailed to the Americas under the sponsorship of Spain

* His voyages led to the European colonization of the Americas

* Changed the course of world history

Martin Luther (1483-1546 CE)

* German theologian who started the Protestant Reformation

* His 95 Theses criticized the Catholic Church and led to a split in Christianity

* His teachings influenced the development of Western thought and culture

Elizabeth I (1533-1603 CE)

* Queen of England and Ireland during a period of great prosperity and power

* Defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588

* Supported exploration and colonization in the Americas

* Known as the "Virgin Queen"

George Washington (1732-1799 CE)

* First President of the United States

* Led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolution

* Helped to establish the United States as a sovereign nation

* Known as the "Father of His Country"

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821 CE)

* French general and emperor who conquered much of Europe

* His empire eventually collapsed, but he left a lasting mark on Europe

* Introduced Napoleonic Codes, which influenced legal systems around the world

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865 CE)

* 16th President of the United States

* Led the Union to victory in the American Civil War

* Issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves

* Shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth

Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948 CE)

* Indian lawyer and activist who led the Indian independence movement

* Used nonviolent civil disobedience to challenge British rule

* Influenced civil rights movements around the world

* Assassinated by a Hindu extremist

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013 CE)

* South African anti-apartheid activist and politician

* Served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999

* Worked to dismantle apartheid and promote reconciliation in South Africa

* Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993