Visionaries and Dreamers

Visionaries and Dreamers whose passion inspires or inspired change in the world for the better.

The unique, genius, spirits of the zeitgeist, who catapult us forward to a safer, better, free and more peaceful future.

By the removal of any of these notable iconoclasts, who defy the status quo, defied established conventions, raised the social, moral, cultural, and intellectual conscience of the world, with divine inspiration, and innovation, our world would be a much poorer place.

Selected profiles by activity period:

BCE

• Hammurabi, King of Babylon - Known for the set of laws called Hammurabi's Code, one of the first written codes of law in recorded history. (died: c. 1686 BCE)
• Moses "The Lawgiver"; משה רבנו‎; Mōšéh; Mωϋσῆς ; موسىٰ; Mōüsēs - A prophet in the Abrahamic religions. According to the Hebrew Bible, he was adopted by an Egyptian princess, and later in life became the leader of the Israelites and lawgiver (1393 BCE to 1273 BCE)
• Siddhārtha Gautama; सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Buddha - Spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha ("awakened one" or "the enlightened one") of our age (c. 586 BCE to c. 486 BCE)
• Confucius, 孔丘 Kǒng Qiū - Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. His teaching - Confucianism, emphasised personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. (551 BCE to 479 BCE)

0 to 1000 CE

• Jesus of Nazareth - The central figure of Christianity, which views him as the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, with most Christian denominations believing him to be the Son of God and God incarnate who was raised from the dead. (c. 5 BCE to c. 30 CE)
• Muhammad ibn Abdullāh, Prophet of Islam; رَسول الله مـُحَمـَّد النـَّبيّ - Founder of the religion of Islam, regarded by Muslims as a messenger and prophet of God, the final law-bearer in a series of Islamic prophets (c. 570 - 632)

1000 to 1500 CE

• Moses Maimonides; משה בן מימון - הרמב"ם ; موسى ابن ميمون ; Mūsā ibn Maymūn - The preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. (c. 1138 - 1204)
• Johannes Gutenberg - A publisher and a printer who introduced modern book printing. His printing invention started the Printing Revolution and is widely regarded as the most important event of the modern period. It played a key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution and laid the material basis for the modern knowledge-based economy and the spread of learning to the masses. (1398 – 1468)

XVI Century

• Leonardo da Vinci - Italian polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer. Described as the archetype of the Renaissance man. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived (1452 – 1519)
• Niccolo Machiavelli - Italian (Florentine) historian, political philosopher, humanist, writer, diplomat, playwright, civil servant and founder of modern political science (1469 – 1527)
• Michelangelo Buonarroti - Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer. He is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, along with his rival and fellow Italian, Leonardo da Vinci. (1475-1564).
• Dr. Martin Luther - German theologian, professor, pastor, and church reformer. Nearly all Protestants trace their history back to Luther in one way or another (1483 – 1546)

XVII Century

• Galileo Galilei - Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations (1564-1642)
• William Harvey - English physician - the first person to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart. (1578-1657).
• Uriel da Costa אוריאל ד'אקוסטה - Philosopher and skeptic from Portugal (c. 1585/91 – 1640)
• Rene Descartes - French philosopher, mathematician and scientist. Dubbed the father of modern western philosophy. (1596-1650)
• John Locke - Father of liberal philosophy (1632-1704).
• Sir Isaac Newton, PRS - English mathematician, astronomer, theologian, author and physicist ("natural philosopher"); widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all time (1643 – 1727)

XVIII Century

• Peter the Great - Tsar of all Russia. Expanded the Russian empire and shaped modern Russia. He also implemented elements of the social and cultural changes of the European enlightenment and founded many Russian government institutions. (1672 – 1725)
• Voltaire - French philosopher and critic; was instrumental in promoting Republican ideas due to his criticism of the absolute monarchy of France. (1694 – 1778)
• Adam Smith - Scottish social philosopher and pioneer of classical economics, often referred to as the ‘Father of Economics' (1723-1790)
• George Washington - Leader of American forces during the War of Independence. First President of the United States (1732 – 1799)

XIX Century

• Charles Darwin - English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. He introduced his scientific theory termed natural selection (1809 – 1892)
• Joseph Smith Jr- Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), a church whose adherents regard him as a prophet (1805 – 1844)
• Giuseppe Garibaldi - Italian military and political figure. He has been dubbed the "Hero of the Two Worlds" in tribute to his military expeditions in both South America and Europe. He is considered an Italian national hero. (1807 – 1882)
• Bahá'u'lláh; بهاء ال ; Mirza Husayn Ali Nuri - Founder of the Baha'i Faith, which is the youngest of the world's independent monotheistic religions (1817 – 1892)
• תאודור הרצל – Theodor Binyamin Zeev Herzl - Jewish Austro-Hungarian journalist, playwright, political activist, and writer; father of modern political Zionism. He is known as the father of the State of Israel. (1860 – 1904)

XX Century

• Mahātmā ("Great Soul") Gandhi; महात्मा, or bāpu ("Father") - The preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India, honoured in India as the Father of the Nation (1869 – 1948)
• Nelson Mandela - Anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). Mandela served 27 years in prison. First elected President of democratic South Africa; Laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize (1918 – 2013).
• Pope John Paul ll - acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. It is widely held that he was instrumental in ending Communism in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe. (1920 – 2005).
• Isaac Asimov - Master of Science Fiction (1920 – 1992)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Leader in the civil rights movement (1929 – 1968)
• Dennis Ritchie - Creator of the C programming language (1941 – 2011)
• Deepak Chopra - Holistic Medicine (b. 1946)
• Edward Witten - M-Theory (b. 1951)
• Steve Jobs - Apple (1955 – 2011)
• Bill Gates, Jr. - Microsoft (b. 1955)
• Jimmy Donal Wales - Wikipedia (b. 1966)
• Larry Page - Google (b. 1973)
• Sergey Brin - Google (b. 1973)
• Mark Zuckerberg - Facebook (b. 1984)