Many of us find it hard to deal with the fact that once we are gone, there might be no one who will remember us. Once we are gone, the world will just move on. Others serve as a catalyst for change, the people who made an impact and made the world a better place. They helped the world heal and evolve in a positive way. Some were acknowledged with Nobel Prizes, while others remained in the periphery where recognition is just a bonus. These people have greatly influenced the society, where some were great leaders and some were revolutionary followers.

Marie Curie

Marie Curie is a Polish physicist, scientist, and chemist born in Warsaw, Second Polish Republic. She was a pioneer in a research on radioactivity and won a Nobel Prize in 1911. What was so special about it? It was a first time for a woman to win such an award in history. Her research paved way for advancement for radiological cancer treatment that saved many lives. Not only was she the first woman to win the Nobel Price but she won it twice, and in multiple sciences. She died at the age of 67 in the year 1934.

Leo Tolstoy

Leo Wrote the Greatest Historical Novel of All Time

Leo Tolstoy is a famous Russian writer, short story writer, essayist, playwright, and philosopher best known for his novels such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina. He was born in Eurasia, Russia, Yasnaya Polyana. Tolstoy is considered as one of the greatest novelists of all time. He became an anarcho-pacifist which led him to create writings such as The Kingdom of God Within You. This work of Tolstoy made an impact on political activists like James Bevel, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mohandas Gandhi. He was a master of his craft and was considered as one of the best writers of realistic fiction. He died at the age of 82 in the year 1910. People still read his books.

Johannes Gutenberg

Gutenberg was born in Mainz, Germany. He was known for the invention of the printing press that led to the creation and mass distribution of information. He was able to deliver knowledge to the common people, thus, giving the general public awareness about the world around them. He was a blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher by profession who introduced publishing to Europe. His pride, the invention of a mechanical and movable type of printing have fired the Printing Revolution and regarded as one of the most important events in the modern period.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Aleksandr Opened the World’s Eyes About USSR Oppression In The Past

Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn was born in Kislovodsk, Russia and known to be a novelist, historian, and critic of Soviet totalitarianism. He was able to raise the world’s awareness of the gulag and forced labor at the Soviet Union camp system. It was an eye-opener for the world. His works and writings were suppressed by USSR for a long time. He died at the age of 90 in the year 2008.

Elsa Brändström

Elsa Brändström was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was famous as the “Angel of Siberia”. Brändström was a Swedish nurse and a philanthropist that helped people. She died at the age of 60 in the year 1948.

Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc Was Hailed as the Heroine of France

Joan of Arc, also referred to as the “The Maid of Orléans” was born in Domrémy-la-Pucelle, France. She was a military leader and was considered a heroine in France and hailed as a Saint for Roman Catholics. Born to Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle, a peasant family, at Domrémy in north-east France, Joan received visions of saints. She died at 19 in the year 1431.

Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi was born in Assisi, Italy. By profession, he was a friar, preacher, and a philosopher that founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis for men and women who were unable to live the lives of preachers that are itinerant.

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci was Famous for his Last Supper Painting

Famous for his paintings Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, he was born in Vinci, Italy and had multiple professions: painter, architect, engineer, musician sculptor, inventor, anatomist, geologist, mathematician, cartographer, botanist, and writer. Widely recognized as one of the greatest painters of all time, his works influenced people of high positions in politics and the society. He died at the age of 67 in the year 1519.