AP World - Historical People

period 1 and 2

mansa musa

The emperor of the Mali Empire in the 14th century, known for his wealth and extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca, which showcased the riches of his kingdom and boosted trade and education in West Africa.

ibn battuta

A 14th-century Moroccan explorer and traveler, known for his extensive journeys across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, documenting his experiences in the book "Rihla."

genghis khan

The founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. Known for his military genius, he united the nomadic tribes of the Mongolian plateau and expanded his empire across Asia and into Europe.

zheng he

A Chinese admiral and explorer during the early Ming Dynasty, known for his large naval expeditions that traveled to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa, promoting trade and cultural exchanges.

emperor yongle

The third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, known for commissioning the voyages of Zheng He and the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. He further consolidated imperial power and promoted cultural and economic growth in China.

johannes gutenberg

A German inventor and printer, best known for introducing the printing press to Europe, which revolutionized the way books were produced and contributed to the spread of knowledge and literacy during the Renaissance.

marco polo

A Venetian merchant and explorer who traveled extensively throughout Asia in the 13th century, documented his experiences in "The Travels of Marco Polo," promoting trade and cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia.

prince henry

A Portuguese royal known as Prince Henry the Navigator, who played a significant role in the early days of the Portuguese Empire by sponsoring exploratory voyages along the African coast and paving the way for the Age of Discoveries.

vasco de gama

A Portuguese explorer who was the first to reach India by sea, establishing a sea route to Asia that significantly expanded trade and influence for Portugal in the late 15th century.

christopher columbus

An Italian explorer known for completing four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

ferdinand magellan

A Portuguese explorer credited with leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, proving the world was round and significantly advancing maritime navigation in the early 16th century.

hernando cortes

A Spanish Conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and claimed large portions of Mexico for Spain in the early 16th century.

francisco pizarro

A Spanish conquistador known for conquering the Incan Empire in present-day Peru, leading to the significant expansion of Spanish territory in South America in the early 16th century.

mehmed II

The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for conquering Constantinople in 1453 and significantly expanding Ottoman territory.

suleiman the magnificent

The tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for his significant governmental reforms, military conquests, and patronage of the arts, leading to the empire's golden age during the 16th century.

akbar the great

The third Mughal emperor, known for his policies of religious tolerance, administrative reforms, and expansion of the empire across the Indian subcontinent in the late 16th century.

ivan the great

The Grand Prince of Moscow who ended Mongol rule in Russia and centralized power, laying the groundwork for the future Russian state.

ivan the terrible

The first tsar of Russia, known for his complex personality, brutal reign, and significant territorial expansion. His rule included the establishment of a centralized state and the implementation of reforms, but also marked by episodes of extreme violence.

peter the great

The Russian czar who modernized Russia through extensive reforms in government, military, and culture, and expanded its territory during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

adam smith

He was a philosopher and economist known for his work on capitalism and free markets.

michelangelo

Italian Renaissance artist, sculptor, and painter best known for masterpieces like the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David.

leonardo da vinci

Renaissance artist and polymath known for masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, as well as contributions to science and invention.

nicolas copernicus

Astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model of the universe, asserting that the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun.

galileo galilei

Italian astronomer and physicist who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution, known for his improvements to the telescope and support of heliocentrism.

sir Isaac newton

An English mathematician and physicist who is best known for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

henry viii

King of England from 1509 to 1547, known for his six marriages and for initiating the English Reformation by breaking away from the Catholic Church.

john calvin

A French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation, known for his teachings on predestination and the sovereignty of God. He played a significant role in the development of Calvinism.

elizabeth i

Queen of England from 1558 to 1603, known for her strong leadership during the Elizabethan Era, which included the defeat of the Spanish Armada and a flourishing of English drama and literature.

louis xiv

King of France from 1643 to 1715, known as the "Sun King" for his centralization of power and for building the Palace of Versailles, symbolizing the absolute monarchy.

john locke

An English philosopher and physician, regarded as one of the most influential figures of the Enlightenment. His ideas on natural rights, government by consent, and social contract greatly influenced modern political thought.

jean-jacques rousseau

A French philosopher and writer of the 18th century, he is best known for his works on political philosophy and education, particularly in "The Social Contract" and "Emile." Rousseau's ideas about liberty, equality, and democracy laid foundational principles for modern political theory.

baron de montesquieu

A French philosopher and political theorist of the Enlightenment, best known for his work "The Spirit of the Laws." Montesquieu's theory of the separation of powers is a foundational concept in modern democratic governance.

mary wollstonecraft

An English writer and advocate for women's rights, she is best known for her work "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," where she argues for the education and equality of women.

queen nzinga

A 17th-century queen of the Ndongo and Matamba kingdoms in present-day Angola, known for her resistance against Portuguese colonialism and her efforts to protect her people's sovereignty. Nzinga was a skilled diplomat and military leader who negotiated alliances and fought against European powers.