# The 100 Most Influential People - Try the Third **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 14, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080 "2010-04-14T16:58:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/21 "2010-04-14T20:20:03Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Stu, Maxwell? Seriously? He’s probably the second most important physicist on that list, behind only Newton. Without Maxwell’s equations, there’d be no special relativity. Well, **Tom** , without Lavoisier’s work (done by him or someone else), there would be no chemistry, and without Harvey’s work (again,done by him or someone else) there would be no medicine in any meaningful sense. I’m standing on my decision. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/22 "2010-04-14T20:43:07Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Folks, I think it’s important to remember: > > It’s a period, then a space, then the name. I think. 🙂 > > 🙂 Yeah, dashes (-) are more common, but some of the names have dashes in them, meaning their entries won’t parse correctly. However, I was cunning enough to remove the periods from the Saint’s names so period it is. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/23 "2010-04-14T20:57:42Z")
Inventors. Vasco De Gama Leaders. John F Kennedy Philosophy. Mencius Religion. Zoraster Science. Sigmund Freud ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/24 "2010-04-14T21:49:56Z")
Inventor. Vasco de Gama Leader. Menes Philosophy. Mencius Religion. Mani Science. Sigmund Freud ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/25 "2010-04-14T22:35:48Z")
Inventor: Vasco de Gama Leader: John F. Kennedy Philosophy and Arts: Johann Sebastian Bach Religion: Moses Science: Roentgen I voted for Moses because Moses is probably a fictional character. It’s sort of hard for a person who didn’t exist to have any influence. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/26 "2010-04-14T23:05:04Z")
Inventors. Gregory Pincus Leaders. John F Kennedy Philosophy. Mencius Religion. Mahavira Science. James Clerk Maxwell ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/27 "2010-04-14T23:20:02Z")
Inventor. Francisco Pizarro Leader. John F Kennedy Philosophy. Johann Sebastian Bach Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. John Dalton ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/28 "2010-04-14T23:22:29Z")
Invention and Exploration. Gregory Pincus Leader. Queen Isabella I Philosophy and Arts. Johann Sebastian Bach Religion. St Augustine Science. Leonhard Euler **Just to let you know, I think it’s Zoroaster, not Zoraster.** ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/29 "2010-04-14T23:39:45Z")
Christopher Columbus - Explorer, Discoverer of America Alexander the Great - Macedonian Ruler, Formed Macedonian Empire Johann Sebastian Bach – Composer Justinian I - Byzantine Emperor, Recovered Much of Roman Empire John Dalton - Scientist, Atomic Theory ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/30 "2010-04-15T00:50:56Z")
Impressive setup, **JohnT**! Thanks for doing this! OK, my votes: Invention. Hernando Cortes Leader. John F. Kennedy Philosophy. Voltaire Religion. Zoraster Science. Sigmund Freud ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/31 "2010-04-15T01:56:49Z")
6, Francisco Pizarro - Spanish Adventurer, Conquered Inca Empire **Leader** 20, Simon Bolivar - Latin American General and Statesman, Waged Wars of Independence **Philosophy and Arts** 18, Thomas Malthus - Economist, Developed Malthusian Theory **Religion** 9, Mani - Founder of Manichaeism **Science** 8, Gregor Mendel - Priest and Scientist, Advanced Genetics ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/32 "2010-04-15T02:02:53Z")
**Toejam** , please read and follow the formatting instructions as outlined in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Walking\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90ced4/32.png) [@The\_Walking\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Walking_Dude)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/33 "2010-04-15T02:23:39Z")
Inventors. Francisco Pizarro Leaders. Simon Bolivar Philosophy. Johann Sebastian Bach Religion. Zoraster Science. Sigmund Freud ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/34 "2010-04-15T02:39:29Z")
Invention. Francisco Pizarro Leader. Simon Bolivar Philosophy. Thomas Malthus Religion. Mani Science. Gregor Mendel ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/35 "2010-04-15T04:23:09Z")
Inventors. Gregory Pincus Leaders. Queen Elizabeth I Philosophy. Francis Bacon Religion. Mahavira Science. William Conrad Roentgen I’ve nothing in particular against Elizabeth; just trying to deflect (sexist?) attention from Isabella, who _was_ very influential. I must say that Hart’s list is much better reasoned than many seem to be giving him credit for. And some of the captions (inherited from an earlier thread?) are very misleading. For example, Queen Isabella of Spain who “Sponsored Columbus’ Expedition” seems headed for an early exit. Those voting against her might want to review her bio. By the way, Hart’s analysis of her _barely mentions Columbus!_ Isabella, the First Monarch of a united Spain, [ul][li] Married Ferdinand of Aragon (which led directly to the unification of Spain) _against_ her parents’ wishes:[/li][li] Was _not_ the recognized heir of Castile, but seized the throne in War, exploiting her charisma and political skills;[/li][li] Conquered Granada;[/li][li] Instituted the Inquisition;[/li][li] Outlawed the Jewish and Muslim religions in Spain;[/li][li] Through political skill, increased the power of the Cities and Monarch at the expense of nobles and the Pope;[/li][li] Advanced Spain’s economy and society;[/li][li] Took actions leading to a huge empire in the New World;[/li][li] By arranging the marriage of her daughter Juana to Philip Hapsburg the Handsome, helped establish the famous Hapsburg Empire;[/li][/ul] (Her husband, the King of Aragon, also played a role, but Isabella “wore the pants” in the family and, anyway, Hart treats Isabella and Ferdinand as a duet, much like Wilbur and Orville Wright.) There are several on the List whose lack of personal accomplishments or historical importance may mean they don’t really belong. Isabella isn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/36 "2010-04-15T04:35:41Z")
I didn’t vote for Isabella because she’s a woman. I voted for her because, given my non-scholarly lack of knowledge concerning historical figures, I found myself comparing descriptors. “Uniting China,” etc, doesn’t really compare to “Financed Columbus,” imo. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/37 "2010-04-15T04:39:24Z")
Inventions. Hernando Cortes Leader. Charlemagne Philosophy. Lao Tzu Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. William Harvey ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/38 "2010-04-15T13:04:39Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I voted for Moses because Moses is probably a fictional character. It’s sort of hard for a person who didn’t exist to have any influence. It’s a tricky line though. The Story of Moses, exodus etc, certainly has major influence. The Ten Commandments are still being talked about, no matter the source. As with Homer, the fact he may have been several men doesn’t mean that works of Homer should be dismissed out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/39 "2010-04-15T13:06:59Z")
William TG Morton - Scientist, Invented Anaesthesia Leader Sui Wen Ti - Chinese Emperor, Reunited China Philosophy and Arts Johann Sebastian Bach – Composer Religion Mani - Founder of Manichaeism Science Sigmund Freud - Psychologist, Developed Freudian Psychology ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/40 "2010-04-15T13:09:20Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > **Just to let you know, I think it’s Zoroaster, not Zoraster.** Oh hell. All the more reason to dump him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080.md?page=3)