The Modern School of Athens

Mahatma Gandhi was the leader of India’s independence movement against Britain and has as such become known as the Father of the Nation. His strong advocacy for the doctrine of satyagraha, or nonviolent protest, inspired civil rights movements and freedom across the world.

Nelson Mandela was a prominent figure in the fight against apartheid in South Africa. He spent 27 years imprisoned before his negotiations successfully helped to usher an end to the rule. He finally became the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and under him, the government dismantled the legacy of apartheid and fostered racial unity.

Marie Curie was a Polish-born French physicist, famous for her work on radioactivity. She was awarded both the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903 and the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1911, becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice. Her research revolutionized our modern understanding of physics and chemistry, laying the groundwork for many modern scientific advancements, including medicine and nuclear physics.

Henry Ford was an American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company. His innovative assembly line techniques made mass production possible, revolutionizing the automobile industry and making car ownership accessible to many Americans.

Walt Disney was an American motion picture and television producer and showman who co-founded The Walt Disney Company. Disney was a pioneer of animated cartoon films, such as Mickey Mouse. He also planned and built Disneyland and holds the record for the most Academy Awards earned and nominations by an individual.

Elvis Presley was a famous American singer and actor known as the “King of Rock and Roll.” He is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the twentieth century for his contributions to rock history and his unique performances and songs.

Alexander Fleming was a Scottish bacteriologist known for his discovery of penicillin, the world’s first broadly effective antibiotic substance. This was an extremely important achievement in medicine and saved millions of lives, especially those of soldiers during World War II with infections that would have been fatal. Fleming earned the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 for his valuable contributions.

Steve Jobs was a co-founder of Apple Inc., whose innovative products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Macintosh computer transformed the world. A pioneer of the personal computer era, Jobs was a leader in telecommunications, and his focus on design simplicity left an important mark on the technological world.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, advocating for nonviolent resistance to racial segregation. King was one of the leaders of the March on Washington, during which he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, playing a crucial part in achieving civil rights across the nation.

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist, painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, best known for his creation of the Cubism art style. Picasso’s work spanned various styles and movements, including Surrealism and Neoclassicism. He was one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, and his bold experimentation with form, color, and perspective continues to inspire artists around the world.

Albert Einstein was a German-born physicist who developed the theory of relativity and won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the photoelectric effect in 1921. His important contributions to the field of quantum mechanics laid the foundation for modern physics and his discoveries revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

Pope Francis became the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Americas when he was elected in 2013, ushering in a new era of leadership for the Roman Catholic Church. Known for his humility, compassion, and advocacy for the marginalized, Pope Francis has worked to reform the Catholic Church, emphasizing social justice, environmental stewardship, and outreach to the poor and vulnerable throughout his papacy.

Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman who held a world record of 1,093 patents. His inventions included the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and early versions of the electric light bulb. His technological discoveries and innovations have had a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world.

Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun and the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to the poor. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her passionate humanitarian work and unwavering commitment to serving the poor and sick.

Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born inventor and scientist known for inventing the telephone and refining the phonograph. In addition, as a deaf teacher, he made many valuable contributions to deaf education as well as aeronautics, leaving a lasting legacy on the world.

Bill Gates is an American computer programmer and entrepreneur who cofounded Microsoft Corporation, the world’s largest personal-computer software company. In addition, Gates is known for his charitable work through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health, education, and poverty alleviation.