For thousands of years, humans and their actions have shaped our history. But some people have such a profound and at times devastating influence, they not only change the course of history, they also manage to leave a legacy so powerful, it can be called world-changing. This book looks at 10 of these people - from discoverer Christopher Columbus who brought about a radical change to the face of the American continents, to Osama bin Laden who masterminded the devastating attacks of 9/11, which ushered in a new era of warfare and terrorism.

Each of these 10 world-changing people is examined in detail - what were their circumstances; what turned them into a world-changing figure; what kind of a legacy have they left; and how is it still relevant to us today?

Spanning a significant portion of human history, from the ancient world of Alexander the Great, to the age of discovery in the 15th century, the World Wars, and the end of Apartheid, this book not only examines the people themselves, but also places them in the context of other historical events and developments. It includes scientists, dictators, civil rights activists, terrorists and politicians.

Perfect for course work and cross-curricular activities spanning history, politics and science; the book includes 10 further highly influential people, as well as a timeline that places them in the context of world history.