History is evidently gifted to us people who have left their marks in our lives, ones that will be remembered for the centuries to come.
Brilliant minds, fearless leaders and visionaries, there are numerous historical figures whose lives were cut short by time, politics or fate. If they were alive, their influence could have reshaped the world in unimaginable ways.
These are the 15 historical figures that could have been the greatest to ever live and a glimpse into what live could have been if they were alive now.
1. Alexander the Great
Alexander conquered most of the known world before the age of 33, uniting cultures from Greece to India. Not just his vision but his genius and charisma influenced the cosmopolitan empire were unparalleled. Yet, his sudden death halted his missions that could have reshaped civilizations as we know today. However, even after centuries of his passing, his legacy endures but a lot of his unrealized plans make him one of history’s greatest “what ifs.”
2. Cleopatra VII
More than a seductress of legend, Cleopatra was also an extremely keen and shrewd politician, linguist and a strategist as well. Her objective was to preserve Egypt’s independence against Rome’s relentless expansion. She spoke multiple languages, commanded naval fleets, and maneuvered through one of history’s most dangerous political climates. If her plans succeeded, Egypt might have remained a powerful Mediterranean empire. Instead, her tragic death marked the end of her rule.
3. Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci’s mind was ahead of his time, imaging helicopters before flight. Not just that, he was the one who dissected the human body with surgeon-like precision, and painted works that still inspire awe. Yet his relentless curiosity meant many projects remained unfinished. If given more resources, or perhaps a more supportive political climate, he could have revolutionized science and engineering alongside art. Some of his notes also indicate a possibility of an industrial revolution in the 1500s.
4. Hypatia of Alexandria
Hypatia was a mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher in an era hostile to women in intellectual spheres. She led the famous Library of Alexandria’s scholarly community, defending reason and scientific thought during the rise of religious orthodoxy. However, her brutal murder happened in 415 CE, further extinguishing a vital light in the ancient world. Her life, if it had not been cut short, might have advanced mathematics and further preserved knowledge in the turbulent times.
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5. Niccolò Machiavelli
Often misunderstood as a ruthless schemer, Machiavelli was actually a keen political theorist who believed in pragmatic governance. Most of his works dissected power with unflinching honesty, offering a caricature for statecraft, which is still relevant today. However, he was exiled and sidelined in his later years. If he had the chance to rule, the Renaissance might have witnessed the birth of a new political order.
6. Ada Lovelace
In the 1840s, Ada Lovelace envisioned the first computer algorithm, almost a century before the first computers were invented. Her keen curiosity and knowledge made her see Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine as more than a standard calculator. Instead, she viewed it as a tool capable of creating music, art and a lot more. Hindered by her poor health and lack of recognition, most of her theories were never realized back then.
7. Srinivasa Ramanujan
A self-taught mathematical prodigy from India, Ramanujan made groundbreaking contributions to number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions. When he arrived at Cambridge, his knowledge and expertise left even the most seasoned mathematicians in shock. However, tragedy hit and he passed at the age of 32 due to illness. This explains why a lot of the formulas remain unexplored, which could have changed the trajectory of maths and physics in the present day.
8. Joan of Arc
A teenage peasant who led armies and altered the course of the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc’s courage was matched only by her conviction. Despite her military brilliance and the keen vision that she had, she was betrayed, captured and then burned at the age of 19, cutting short a lot of the influence she could otherwise have had on European politics. Her martyrdom remains one of the tragic, leaving behind a lot of what ifs in its wake.
9. Tupac Amaru II
An 18th-century revolutionary leader in Peru, Tupac Amaru II sought to end Spanish colonial oppression and restore indigenous rights. His rebellion shook the foundations of Spanish rule, leading to the unity of a lot of diverse groups. He was later captured and executed and became a symbol of resistance. If he were alive for longer, he might have led South America towards independence decades before the 19th century.
10. Mary Wollstonecraft
An intellectual firebrand, Wollstonecraft championed women’s rights during an age when the idea was radical. One of her most landmark pieces was “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” which challenged societal norms and called for education as a path to equality. However, she tragically died at the age of 38, shortly after giving birth to Mary Shelley. If she had lived longer, she might have spearheaded a broader feminist movement back in the 19th century.
11. Yamamoto Isoroku
The Japanese admiral who masterminded Pearl Harbor was also a strategist who foresaw Japan’s eventual defeat in World War II. He was a Harvard graduate and former naval attache in the U.S. He extensively understood Western industrial might and preferred diplomacy over prolonged conflict. If his counsel prevailed, there are possibilities that Japan might have pursued a different path, further reshaping Asia’s 20th century geopolitics.
12. Che Guevara
To some, Che Guevara was a revolutionary hero and for others, a polarizing figure. His vision extended beyond Cuba because he dreamed of a global uprising against imperialism. It was his guerilla tactics, which made him a formidable force. Unfortunately, his life was cut short when he was killed at the age of 39 when he was attempting to spark rebellion in Bolivia. If he had succeeded in his missions, the political map of Latin America would have been different.
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13. Alan Turing
The man who cracked Nazi Germany’s Enigma code, shortening World War II and saving millions of lives, Alan Turing was also a pioneer of computer science and artificial intelligence. However, he was persecuted for his sexuality, later dying under tragic circumstances at just 41. With more years and freedom to explore his ideas, Turing might have accelerated AI research by decades.
14. Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath had a rare gift for capturing the raw complexities of human emotion. Her early death at 30 cut short a career that promised to redefine modern literature. Plath’s evolving voice might have bridged the feminist movement with literary innovation, influencing a generation of writers. Each of her poems expressed her fearless and unforgettable nature, leaving us to wonder what unwritten masterpieces would have brought around.
15. Chester Nimitz
The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet commander in World War II, Nimitz displayed unmatched strategic genius, turning the tide at battles like Midway. He was a forward-thinking leader, further championing postwar cooperation and naval modernization. If he lived longer and remained in public life, his influence might have shaped Cold War diplomacy at present times.
Final Words
These fifteen figures stand as haunting reminders of history’s fragile balance, citing how things could have changed if they lived longer. Each of these figures possessed unique talents that could have changed the world far beyond our imagination.
