The Most Influential Person in Western History

[General Havoc]

This is a question for those who have historical inclinations (as I do). Someone I know, recently asked me and others on Facebook who I thought was the most influential person in the history of the West. I picked someone and defended the claim (as did he), but I'm interested in knowing what others believe. If you're so inclined, please tell me who you would select as the most influential person in the long history of the West, and explain to me why you think so.


For those who care, my personal selection was

Spoiler: show

Socrates.

[Josh]

My mind boggles at the notion of picking a single individual, but I am interested in hearing your case for your selection.

[Lys]

i'm not overly fond of the great man theory of history, but on the other hand neither am i fond of discounting the influence of individuals entirely.

The first thing that comes to mind is an adage a friend of mine told me: Augustus made Europe Roman, while Constantine made it Christian, it is still both of those things to this day.

[Comrade Tortoise]

i'm not overly fond of the great man theory of history, but on the other hand neither am i fond of discounting the influence of individuals entirely.

The first thing that comes to mind is an adage a friend of mine told me: Augustus made Europe Roman, while Constantine made it Christian, it is still both of those things to this day.

I would not call europe christian, at least not most of western europe. I mean, many countries are getting to the point that christianity is a minority religion, second to not having one.

And yes, I am considering ceremonial christianity with no belief attached to be not having a religion. Having your baby baptized lutheran because that is just What We Do In Sweden is not christianity.

As for my pick... I am torn between Charles Darwin, Louis Pasteur and Edward Jenner.

Edward Jenner gave us the Smallpox Vaccine. I cannot stress that enough. The Smallpox Vaccine. At the end of the day, he is responsible for the eradication of the disease that, in the 20th century alone, killed more people than the casualties of every war in human history combined. If that is not a HUGE fucking influence, I dont know what is. The same basic logic applies to Pasteur, who gave us the germ theory of infectious disease.

Charles Darwin gave us Evolution, which provides the theoretical framework upon which we not only understand the history of our species and life on earth but upon which we predict, trace, and fight diseases in an era of anti-biotic resistance and emergent pandemics.

You dont become more influential than preventing the deaths of millions upon millions of people.

Of course, by that same logic... Hippocrates. Hippocrates I think is my final answer.

[Lys]

I would not call europe christian, at least not most of western europe. I mean, many countries are getting to the point that christianity is a minority religion, second to not having one.

And yes, I am considering ceremonial christianity with no belief attached to be not having a religion. Having your baby baptized lutheran because that is just What We Do In Sweden is not christianity.

Whereas i am considering ceremonial Christianity to still be Christianity, because i'm talking about the socio-cultural influence of Christianity that still pervades the European continent regardless of actual belief in the spiritual elements of the religion. The social and cultural zeitgeist of Europe is still Roman and Christian to a noticeable degree, even if Europeans don't Hail Caesar or Praise Jesus.

[frigidmagi]

Honestly Havoc's Romanitas is enough to make his city an Roman successor state all on it's own. So if there are 10 guys in Europe with half of his Romanitas then Europe is pretty Roman all things considered.

[General Havoc]

Europe is absolutely both Christian and Roman, and that has nothing whatsoever to do with how many people go to Church or speak Latin. If you regard Norway, one of the most secular nations on Earth, as something other than a Christian nation, then you know nothing of Norway.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Europe is absolutely both Christian and Roman, and that has nothing whatsoever to do with how many people go to Church or speak Latin. If you regard Norway, one of the most secular nations on Earth, as something other than a Christian nation, then you know nothing of Norway.

*shrug* so long as our definitions are clear.