Current Leader don't count as they haven't become historical by any means. I guess you could count a living former president...
2006-11-07 03:55:26 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Winston Churchill. I firmly believe he "saved the world."
2006-11-07 03:57:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you mean leader, a person who lead others, rather than a person who accomplished great things,my vote would go to Genghis Khan. He took people from one of the most backward sections of the whole world, people who were in tribes that fought each other for centuries, Genghis organized them into one of the most efficient fighting forces the world has ever known.
He had a pony express system that was unmatched. He was able to conquer all of the Northern half of Asia, and all of Europe as far as Germany before he died. Had he lived a few years longer, he would have over-run all of Europe.
Genghis' empire was the largest one mass empire the world has ever known. By one mass is meant, not scattered islands as the English empire under Victoria.
All of the planing, the strategy, communication, supply were worked out by Genghis personally. After his death it all fell apart.
Now, there's a leader for you.
2006-11-07 14:06:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had to laugh at some of the answers.
Let me tell you why most of the people listed shouldn't count:
Gandhi - he hated black people. Gandhi thought that black people were inferior to white people and Indian people so much that he sought to repress them in South Africa (and did his bit to help set up apartied government).
Lincoln - he didn't really want slavery to end. Lincoln was unsure about ending slavery in the Union. If you read the Emancipation Proclamation you'll even see that it only ends slavery in the CSA states!
Napoleon - Something about losing nearly all of his 700,000 man grande armee and then abandoning what was left in Vilnius to eat each other sorta ruins his chances in my opion.
In terms of giant historical figures, Alexander the Great definitely fits for top dog (how many Alexandrias are there?).
If you want my opinion, I'd say Fidel Castro. Despite all his flaws, he ousted a very unpopular leader (Batista) in a resounding victory for socialism, dodged assassination attempts from the US left and right, held on to power despite the Bay of Pigs Invasion, held on to power despite the collapse of the USSR, and hasn't really done that bad of a job all things considered. Maybe I'm just a communist, though!
Good luck!
2006-11-07 12:43:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what you are looking as a leader: There is no single style of leadership, and therefore, no one can claim to be "the best"
If you think about the consummate politician and statesman, it has to be Augustus, first Roman Emperor. His quest for power started when he was just 18 years old, against many enemies interested in making sure the legacy of Julius Caesar dissapeared. And Augustus was no military genious, despite having to fight many wars. The fact that he prevailed against everybody and died of old age makes him the ultimate Maquiavellan prince.
If you are looking for someone who was BOTH a great military leader and a stateman, Napoleon Bonaparte fits the bill. Led his troops to many victories and left for France and many nations many useful institutions.
If you are thinking of someone who has moved people by his ideas, you can look for Muhammad or for Gandhi. I bet few people have been stirred by so many souls IN THEIR LIFETIME (Jesus may be the ultimate religious figure, but his influence was felt many years after his death).
If you think of leader as someone who is a supehero, I can think of Alexander the Great. It is no coincidence that he was thought of as the son of a deity. His accomplishments were astounding.
2006-11-07 14:04:51 · answer #4 · answered by Historygeek 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abraham Lincoln
2006-11-07 12:05:36 · answer #5 · answered by Zain 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Alexander the Great
2006-11-07 12:45:23 · answer #6 · answered by eratkos7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Several come to mind...
Alexander the Great,
Marco Polo
Julius Caesar
2006-11-07 12:14:01 · answer #7 · answered by Jim7368 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gandhi. He did the impossible.
Ataturk. He did the unlikely.
Lincoln. He performed against the rules and the odds and saved a nation.
Bush Jr... ahhhh just kidding.
2006-11-07 12:04:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bob Geldolf?
2006-11-07 12:02:52 · answer #9 · answered by Smokeabella 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rather you are a believer or not it would seem to me that Jesus would be the logical choice.
2006-11-07 12:12:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋