Influential People

Over the past few decades, lists of people who have affected society have been created. From lists of music bands to guitarist and from scientists to politicians. All these lists contant some of the most powerful figure-heads of history. From Leonardo da Vinci to Gandhi, all these lists have many kinds of personalities from all over the world.

However, the only problem with these lists are: they are always changed and out-dated. The past century has seen many magazines, such as Time, come up and change the lists annually, with their annual 100 list. Anyway, a book was published in 1978 titled The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. This book was written by a man named Michael H. Hart. His top ten include (1992 Edition):

1. Prophet Muhammad

2. Issaac Newton

3. Jesus

4. Buddha

5. Confucius

6. St. Paul

7. Ts'ai Lun

8. Johannes Gutenberg

9. Christopher Columbus

10. Albert Einstein

Now, the problem with lists are that everyone has their take. I, like many of you, do not agree with this list fully. Most of the people on the list are prominent figures in history and have ultimately change it aswell. However, I too have come up with lists...surprise, surprise. However the list itself is more specific, reflecting on the 20th Century and the people involved in events or people who have had an impact on the century itself. Here it goes...remember everyone has their own take on stuff. What might seem right to me, doesn't necessary reflect on you. Hence your own thoughts do not reflect on the reality aswell. These lists are just for fun.

16 Influential People or Corporations of the 20th Century, not in List order or format:

Microsoft (aka Bill Gates' Empire)

McDonalds Corporation

Walt Disney

Adolf Hitler

Apple, Inc (aka Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak)

Vladimir Lenin

Mao Zedong

Albert Einstein

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Mother Theresa

Oprah Winfrey

Joseph Stalin

Bob Dylan

Steven Hawking

The Beatles

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Why 16? Well, loads of lists have multiples of 5. So why not something different. Also there were 16 people I could think of who deserved to be on the list.

I feel these are the people, or companies or bands for that matter, which have affected the past century. All the above have caused changes in the past and ultimately affected the future. Most, if not all, of whom are famous people, well...how can you be famous and not have an impact on society? Makes sense, ya?

The impact of the people above range from world wars, Adolf Hitler and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, to television, Oprah Winfrey. From the music industry, Bob Dylan and The Beatles, to men of science, Steven Hawking and Albert Einstein. People who have changed millions of people's lifes with ideologies, the list has omitted Karl Marx but its influenced on Lenin has had significant effect, to humanitarian Mother Theresa and Ghandi. Even entertainment, food and technological companies were included.