Main people for western civ

Hammurabi

Wrote Code of Hammurabi — first written law code; emphasized justice and order.

King Menes

United Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt’s first dynasty.

Abraham

Father of the Hebrew nation; made covenant with God.

Moses

Led the Exodus from Egypt; received Ten Commandments.

David

King who united Israel; wrote many Psalms.

Solomon

Built the Temple in Jerusalem; known for wisdom.

Assyrians

Militaristic empire; conquered Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Babylonians (Nebuchadnezzar)

Conquered Southern Kingdom of Judah; destroyed Jerusalem; exiled the Jews.

Cyrus the Great

Persian ruler who freed the Jews from Babylonian exile; known for tolerance.

Darius I

Persian ruler; built Royal Road; expanded empire.

Pericles

Led Athens during Golden Age; expanded democracy; built Parthenon.

Socrates

Greek philosopher; taught by questioning; executed for “corrupting youth.”

Plato

Student of Socrates; wrote The Republic; emphasized ideal forms.

Aristotle

Student of Plato; tutor of Alexander the Great; emphasized logic and reason.

Herodotus

“Father of History”; wrote about Persian Wars.

Thucydides

Historian of Peloponnesian War; focused on accuracy and human motives.

Philip II

United Greek city-states under Macedonian rule.

Alexander the Great

Conquered Persian Empire; spread Greek culture (Hellenism).

Julius Caesar

Roman general and dictator; conquered Gaul; assassinated 44 BC.

Augustus (Octavian)

First Roman emperor; began Pax Romana (Roman peace).

Constantine

Legalized Christianity (Edict of Milan, 313 AD).

Theodosius

Made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor; created Corpus Juris Civilis (Roman law code).

Tertullian

Early Christian apologist; defended faith in Latin writings.

Eusebius

First major Church historian; wrote Church History.

Athanasius

Defended the Trinity; opposed Arian heresy; key figure at Council of Nicaea.

Jerome

Translated Bible into Latin (Vulgate).

Ambrose

Bishop of Milan; taught that the Church is higher than the emperor.

Augustine

Wrote Confessions and City of God; key theologian on sin and grace.

Leo I (Pope Leo the Great)

Confronted Attila the Hun; strengthened papal authority.

Patrick

Missionary who converted Ireland to Christianity.

Benedict

Founded Western monasticism; wrote Rule of Benedict for monks.