Jesus Christ tops the list of the top 10 most significant figures in human history, as based on opinions circulated over Wikipedia over a span of months and as figured by a couple of computer scientists.
Next in line, The Daily Mail reported: Napoleon Bonaparte and William Shakespeare. Making an appearance at No. 4 is Mohammed, the prophet of Muslims.
The two computer scientists, Steven Skiena and Charles Ward, used quantitative analysis to sift through and rank more than 1,000 notable and historical figures — including Elvis, Beethoven, Queen Victoria and Stalin, The Daily Mail said.
“We would call Jesus ’the most significant person ever,” said Mr. Skiena, in Pacific Standard. “With over 2 billion followers a full 2,000 years after his death, Jesus is an incredibly successful historical name.”
Rounding out the list: Abraham Lincoln, at No, 5, and then in order, George Washington, Adolf Hitler, Aristotle, Alexander the Great and Thomas Jefferson.
The scientists say the notable absence of women on the list is due to centuries of inequality and dismissal of female achievements, The Daily Mail said. They also say Hitler’s presence is more of a “lest we forget” listing.
“People can move up or down over time,” Mr. Skiena said, in The Daily Mail. “Our rankings will continue to evolve.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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