Alexander the Great

Occupation: Military Commander and King of Ancient Greece Born: July 20, 356 BC Pella, Macedon Died: June 10, 323 BC Babylon Best known for: Conquering much of Asia and Europe

Biography:

Alexander the Great was the king of Macedonia or Ancient Greece. He is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. When did Alexander the Great live? Alexander the Great was born on July 20, 356 BC. He died at the young age of 32 in 323 BC having accomplished much in his short life. He reigned as king from 336-323 BC. Childhood of Alexander the Great Alexander's father was King Philip the II. Philip II had built up a strong and united empire in Ancient Greece, which Alexander inherited. Like most children in Athens, Alexander was tutored as a child and learned mathematics, reading, writing, and how to play the lyre. He also was instructed on how to fight, ride a horse, and hunt. When Alexander was thirteen, his father Philip II wanted the best teacher possible for him. He hired the great philosopher Aristotle. In return for tutoring his son, Philip agreed to restore Aristotle's home town of Stageira, including setting many of its citizens free from slavery.

At school Alexander met many of his future generals and friends such as Ptolemy and Cassander. He also enjoyed reading the works of Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Alexander's Conquests After securing the throne and getting all of Greece under his control, Alexander turned east to conquer more of the civilized world. He moved swiftly using his military genius to win battle after battle conquering many peoples and rapidly expanding the Greek empire. Here is the order of his conquests:

First he moved through Asia Minor and what is today Turkey. He took over Syria defeating the Persian Army at Issus and then laying siege to Tyre. Next, he conquered Egypt and established Alexandria as the capital. After Egypt came Babylonia and Persia, including the city of Susa. Then he moved through Persia and began to prepare for a campaign in India.

At this point Alexander had accumulated one of the largest empires in history. However, his soldiers were ready to revolt. They wanted to return home to see their wives and children. Alexander agreed and his army turned back.

The Empire of Alexander the Great - click for larger view

Death of Alexander Alexander only made it back to Babylon where he became suddenly sick and died. No one is sure what he died from, but many suspect poison. Upon his death the great empire he had built was divided up amongst his generals, called the Diadochi. The Diadochi ended up fighting each other for many years as the empire fell apart.

Fun Facts about Alexander the Great

He was supposedly related to the Greek heroes Hercules from his father's side and Achilles from his mother's side.

When Alexander was 16, his father left the country to do battle, leaving Alexander as regent, or temporary ruler of Macedonia.

He tamed a wild horse named Bucephalus when he was a kid. It was his main horse until it died of old age. Alexander named a city in India after his horse.

He never lost a single battle. Legend has it that the Temple of Artemis burnt down the day of Alexander's birth because Artemis

was busy attending the birth. His best friend and second in command was the general Hephaestion.

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler

Occupation: Dictator of Germany Born: April 20, 1889 in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary Died: April 30 1945 in Berlin, Germany Best known for: Starting World War II and the Holocaust

Biography: Adolf Hitler was the leader of Germany from 1933 to 1945. He was leader of the Nazi party and became a powerful dictator. Hitler started World War II by invading Poland and then invading many other European countries. He is also known for wanting to exterminate the Jewish people in the Holocaust. Where did Hitler grow up? Adolf was born on April 20, 1899 in a city named Braunau am Inn in the country of Austria. His family moved around some, living a short while in Germany and then back to Austria. Hitler did not have a happy childhood. Both his parents died fairly young and many of his brothers and sisters died as well. Adolf did not do well in school. He was expelled from a couple of schools before he moved to Vienna, Austria to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. While living in Vienna, Hitler found that he did not have much artistic talent and he soon became very poor. He would later move to Munich, Germany in hopes of becoming an architect. Soldier in World War I When World War I began, Hitler joined the German army. Adolf was awarded twice with the Iron Cross for bravery. It was during World War I that Hitler became a strong German patriot and also came to love war.

Rise in Power After the war, Hitler entered politics. Many Germans were upset that they had lost the war. They were also not happy with the Treaty of Versailles, which not only blamed the war on Germany, but took land from Germany. At the same time, Germany was in an economic depression. Many people were poor. Between the depression and the Treaty of Versailles, the time was ripe for Hitler to rise to power.

Hitler(right) idolized and copied Mussolini(left)

Once entering politics, Hitler discovered that he was gifted in giving speeches. His speeches were powerful and people believed what he said. Hitler joined the Nazi party and soon became its leader. He promised Germany that if he became leader he would restore Germany to greatness in Europe. In 1933 he was elected Chancellor of Germany. After becoming Chancellor, there was no stopping Hitler. He had studied his idol, Benito Mussolini of Italy, about how to install a fascist government and become a dictator. Soon Hitler was dictator of Germany. World War II In order for Germany to grow, Hitler thought the country needed more land or "living space". He first annexed Austria as part of Germany and then took over part of Czechoslovakia. This wasn't enough, however. On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. Hitler formed an alliance with the Axis Powers of Japan and Italy. They were fighting the Allied Powers of Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States.

Hitler in Paris

Hitler's army began to take over much of Europe. They attacked quickly in what was called Blitzkrieg or "lightning war". Soon Germany had captured much of Europe including France, Denmark, and Belgium. However, the Allies fought back. On June 6, 1944 they invaded the beaches of Normandy and soon liberated France. By March of 1945 the Allies had defeated much of the German army. On April 30, 1945 Hitler committed suicide. The Holocaust and Ethnic Cleansing Hitler was responsible for some of the most horrible crimes committed in human history. He hated Jewish people and wanted to exterminate them from Germany. He forced Jewish people to go to concentration camps where 6 million Jews were killed during World War II. He also had other people and races he didn't like killed including handicapped people. Facts about Hitler

Hitler loved the circus, especially the acrobats. He never took his coat off, no matter how hot it got. He didn't exercise and didn't like sports. Only one of Hitler's 5 siblings survived childhood, his sister Paula. Hitler was temporarily blind from a mustard gas attack during World War I. He had a cat named Schnitzel.

Marie Curie

Occupation: Scientist Born: November 7, 1867 in Warsaw, Poland Died: July 4, 1934 in Passy, Haute-Savoie, France Best known for: Her work in radioactivity

Biography: Where did Marie Curie grow up? Marie Curie grew up in Warsaw, Poland where she was born on November 7, 1867. Her birth name was Maria Sklodowska, but her family called her Manya. Her parents were both teachers. Her dad taught math and physics and her mom was headmistress at a girl's school. Marie was the youngest of five children. Growing up the child of two teachers, Marie was taught to read and write early. She was a very bright child and did well in school. She had a sharp memory and worked hard on her studies. Tough Times in Poland As Marie grew older her family came upon tough times. Poland was under the control of Russia at the time. People were not even allowed to read or write anything in the Polish language. Her father lost his job because he was in favor of Polish rule. Then, when Marie was ten, her oldest sister Zofia became sick and died from the disease typhus. Two years later her mother died from tuberculosis. This was a difficult time for the young Marie. After graduating from high school, Marie wanted to attend a university, but this wasn't something that young women did in Poland in the 1800s. The university was for men. However, there was a famous university in Paris, France called the Sorbonne that women could attend. Marie did not have the money to

go there, but agreed to work to help pay for her sister Bronislawa to go to school in France, if she would help Marie after she graduated. School in France It took six years, but, after Bronislawa graduated and became a doctor, Marie moved to France and entered the Sorbonne. During the six years Marie had read a lot of books on math and physics. She knew she wanted to become a scientist. Marie arrived in France in 1891. In order to fit in, she changed her name from Manya to Marie. Marie lived the life of a poor college student, but she loved every minute of it. She was learning so much. After three years she earned her degree in Physics. In 1894 Marie met Pierre Curie. Like Marie, he was a scientist and the two of them fell in love. They married a year later and soon had their first child, a daughter named Irene. Scientific Discoveries Marie became fascinated by rays that were recently discovered by scientists Wilhelm Roentgen and Henri Becquerel. Roentgen discovered X-rays and Becquerel had found rays given off by an element called uranium. Marie began to do experiments.

Marie and Pierre Curie in the lab

One day Marie was examining a material called pitchblende. She expected there to be a few rays from the uranium in pitchblende, but instead Marie found a lot of rays. She soon realized that there must be a new, undiscovered element in pitchblende. New Elements Marie and her husband spent many hours in the science lab investigating pitchblende and the new element. They eventually figured out that there were two new elements in pitchblende. They had discovered two new elements for the periodic table!

Marie named one of the elements polonium after her homeland Poland. She named the other radium, because it gave off such strong rays. The Curies came up with the term "radioactivity" to describe elements that emitted strong rays. Nobel Prizes In 1903, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Marie and Pierre Curie as well as Henri Becquerel for their work in radiation. Marie became the first woman to be awarded the prize. In 1911 Marie won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering the two elements, polonium and radium. She was the first person to be awarded two Nobel Prizes. Marie became very famous. Scientists came from around the world to study radioactivity with Marie. Soon doctors found that radiology could help with curing cancer. World War I When World War I started Marie learned that doctors could use X-rays to help determine what was wrong with an injured soldier. However, there weren't enough X-ray machines for every hospital to have one. She came up with the idea that the X-ray machines could move from hospital to hospital in a truck. Marie even helped to train people to run the machines. The trucks became known as petites Curies, meaning "little Curies" and are thought to have helped over 1 million soldiers during the war. Death Marie died on July 4, 1934. She died from overexposure to radiation, both from her experiments and from her work with X-ray machines. Today there are lots of safety measures to keep scientists from getting overexposed to the rays. Facts about Marie Curie

Marie became the Professor of Physics at the Sorbonne after her husband died. She was the first woman to hold this position.

Marie's husband Pierre was killed when he was run over by a carriage in Paris in 1906. Marie became good friends with fellow scientist Albert Einstein. Her first daughter, Irene, won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work with aluminum and radiation. Marie had a second daughter named Eve. Eve wrote a biography of her mother's life. The Curie Institute in Paris, founded by Marie in 1921, is still a major cancer research facility.

Anne Frank

Biography

Occupation: Writer Born: June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany Died: March 1945 at age 15 in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, Nazi Germany Best known for: Writing a diary while hiding from the Nazis during World War II

Biography: Born in Germany Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany on June 12, 1929. Her father, Otto Frank, was a businessman while her mother, Edith, stayed home taking care of Anne and her older sister Margot. Anne was an outgoing and spirited child. She got into more trouble than her quiet and serious older sister. Anne was like her father who liked to tell the girls stories and play games with them, while Margot was more like her shy mother. Growing up Anne had lots of friends. Her family was Jewish and followed some of the Jewish holidays and customs. Anne liked to read and dreamed of being a writer someday. Hitler Becomes Leader In 1933 Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany. He was the leader of the Nazi political party. Hitler did not like Jewish people. He blamed them for many of Germany's problems. Many Jewish people began to flee from Germany. Moving to the Netherlands Otto Frank decided his family should leave, too. In 1934 they moved to the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Anne was only four years old. Before long Anne had made new friends, was speaking Dutch, and was going to school in a new country. Anne and her family felt safe once again.

Anne Frank's family moved from Germany to the Netherlands

World War II Begins In 1939 Germany invaded Poland and World War II had begun. Germany had already taken over Austria and Czechoslovakia. Would they invade the Netherlands, too? Otto considered moving again, but decided to stay. Germany Invades On May 10, 1940 Germany invaded the Netherlands. The Franks did not have time to escape. Jews had to register with the Germans. They weren't allowed to own businesses, have jobs, go to the movies, or even sit on the benches at the park! Otto Frank turned his business over to some non-Jewish friends. In the midst of all this, the Franks tried to go on as normal. Anne had her thirteenth birthday. One of her presents was a red journal which is how we know Anne's story today. Going Into Hiding Things continued to get worse. The Germans began to require all Jewish people to wear yellow stars on their clothing. Some Jews were rounded up and taken to concentration camps. Then one day the order came that Margot would have to go to a labor camp. Otto was not going to let that happen. He and Edith had been preparing a place for the family to hide. The girls were told to pack up what they could. They had to wear all their clothes in layers because a suitcase would look too suspicious. Then they went to their hiding place. A Secret Hideout Otto had prepared a secret hideout next to his place of work. The door was hidden behind some bookshelves. The hideout was small. The first floor had a bathroom and a small kitchen. The second floor had two rooms, one for Anne and Margot and one for her parents. There was also an attic where they stored food and where Anne would sometimes go to be alone.

Anne's Journal Anne named her diary "Kitty" after a friend of hers. Each entry into her diary began "Dear Kitty". Anne wrote about all sorts of things. She didn't think others would be reading it. She wrote about her feelings, books she read, and the people around her. From Anne's diary we find out just what it must have been like to live in hiding for years, fearing for her life. Life in Hiding The Franks had to be careful not be caught by the Germans. They covered all the windows with thick curtains. During the day they had to be extra quiet. They whispered when they talked and went barefoot so they could walk softly. At night, when the people working in the business below went home, they could relax a bit, but they still had to be very careful. Soon more people moved in with the Franks. They needed a place to hide, too. The Van Pels family joined just a week later. They had a 15 year old boy named Peter. This was three more people in that cramped space. Then Mr. Pfeffer moved in. He ended up rooming with Anne and Margot moved to her parent's room. Captured Anne and her family had been hiding for nearly two years. They had heard that the war was coming to an end. It looked like the Germans were going to lose. They were starting to have hope that they would soon be free. However, on August 4, 1944 the Germans stormed into the Frank's hideout. They took everyone captive and sent them to concentration camps. The men and women were separated. Eventually the girls were separated and sent to a camp. Both Anne and her sister died of the disease Typhus in March of 1945, only a month before Allied soldiers arrived at the camp. After the War The only family member to survive the camps was Anne's father Otto Frank. He returned to Amsterdam and found Anne's diary. Her diary was published in 1947 under the name The Secret Annex. Later it was renamed Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. It became a popular book read throughout the world. Interesting Facts about Anne Frank

Anne and Margot called their father by his nickname "Pim". You can go here to read more about the Holocaust that caused the death of over 6 million Jewish

people during World War II. Anne's diary was published in over sixty-five different languages. You can visit the Frank's hideaway, the Secret Annex, in Amsterdam today. One of Anne's hobbies was to collect photos and postcards of movie stars.

Rosa Parks

Biography

Occupation: Civil Rights Activist Born: February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama Died: October 24, 2005 in Detroit, Michigan Best known for: Montgomery Bus Boycott

Biography: Where did Rosa Parks grow up? Rosa grew up in the southern United States in Alabama. Her full name was Rosa Louise McCauley and she was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on February 4, 1913 to Leona and James McCauley. Her mother was a teacher and her father a carpenter. She had a younger brother named Sylvester. Her parents separated while she was still young and she, with her mother and brother, went to live on her grandparent's farm in the nearby town of Pine Level. Rosa went to the local school for African-American children where her mother was a teacher. Going to School Rosa's mother wanted her to get a high school education, but this wasn't easy for an African-American girl living in Alabama in the 1920s. After finishing up elementary school at Pine Level she attended the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls. Then she attended the Alabama State Teacher's College in order to try and get her high school diploma. Unfortunately, Rosa's education was cut short when her mother became very ill. Rosa left school to care for her mother. A few years later Rosa met Raymond Parks. Raymond was a successful barber who worked in Montgomery. They married a year later in 1932. Rosa worked part time jobs and went back to school, finally earning her high school diploma. Something she was very proud of. Segregation During this time, the city of Montgomery was segregated. This meant that things were different for white people and black people. They had different schools, different churches, different stores, different

elevators, and even different drinking fountains. Places often had signs saying "For Colored Only" or "For Whites Only". When Rosa would ride the bus to work, she would have to sit in the back in the seats marked "for colored". Sometimes she would have to stand even if there were seats open up front. Fighting for Equal Rights Growing up Rosa had lived with racism in the south. She was scared of the members of the KKK who had burned down black school houses and churches. She also saw a black man get beaten by a white bus driver for getting in his way. The bus driver only had to pay a $24 fine. Rosa and her husband Raymond wanted to do something about it. They joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Rosa saw the opportunity to do something when the Freedom Train arrived in Montgomery. The train was supposed to not be segregated according to the Supreme Court. So Rosa led a group of African-American students to the train. They attended the exposition on the train at the same time and in the same line as the white students. Some people in Montgomery didn't like this, but Rosa wanted to show them that all people should be treated the same. Sitting on the Bus It was on December 1, 1955 that Rosa made her famous stand (while sitting) on the bus. Rosa had settled in her seat on the bus after a hard day's work. All the seats on the bus had filled up when a white man boarded. The bus driver told Rosa and some other African-Americans to stand up. Rosa refused. The bus driver said he would call the police. Rosa didn't move. Soon the police showed up and Rosa was arrested. Montgomery Bus Boycott Rosa was charged with breaking a segregation law and was told to pay a fine of $10. She refused to pay, however, saying that she was not guilty and that the law was illegal. She appealed to a higher court. That night a number of African-American leaders got together and decided to boycott the city buses. This meant that Africans would no longer ride the buses. One of these leaders was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He became the president of the Montgomery Improvement Association which helped to lead the boycott. It wasn't easy for people to boycott the buses as many African-Americans didn't have cars. They had to walk to work or get a ride in a carpool. Many people couldn't go into town to buy things. However, they stuck together in order to make a statement. The boycott continued for 381 days! Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the segregation laws in Alabama were unconstitutional. After the Boycott Just because the laws were changed, things didn't get any easier for Rosa. She received many threats and feared for her life. Many of the civil rights leader's houses were bombed, including the home of Martin Luther King Jr. In 1957 Rosa and Raymond moved to Detroit, Michigan.

Rosa with President Bill Clinton

Rosa continued to attend civil rights meetings. She became a symbol to many African-Americans of the fight for equal rights. She is still a symbol of freedom and equality to many today. Fun Facts about Rosa Parks

Rosa was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rosa often worked as a seamstress when she needed a job or to make some extra money. You can visit the actual bus that Rosa Parks sat in at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan. When she lived in Detroit, she worked as a secretary for U.S. Representative John Conyers for many

years. She wrote an autobiography called Rosa Parks: My Story in 1992.

Nelson Mandela

Occupation: President of South Africa and Activist Born: July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa Died: December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa Best known for: Serving 27 years in prison as a protest against apartheid

Biography:

Nelson Mandela was a civil rights leader in South Africa. He fought against apartheid, a system where non-white citizens were segregated from whites and did not have equal rights. He served a good portion of his life in prison for his protests, but became a symbol for his people. Later he would become president of South Africa. Where did Nelson Mandela grow up? Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa. His birth name is Rolihlahla. He got the nickname Nelson from a teacher in school. Nelson was a member of Thimbu royalty and his father was chief of the city of Mvezo. He attended school and later college at the College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. At Witwatersrand, Mandela got his law degree and would meet some of his fellow activists against apartheid. What did Nelson Mandela do? Nelson Mandela became a leader in the African National Congress (ANC). At first he pushed hard for the congress and the protesters to follow Mohandas Gandhi's non-violence approach. At one point he started to doubt that this approach would work and started up an armed branch of the ANC. He planned to bomb certain buildings, but only the buildings. He wanted to make sure that no one would be hurt. He was

classified as a terrorist by the South African government and sent to prison. Mandela would spend the next 27 years in prison. His prison sentence brought international visibility to the anti-apartheid movement. He was finally released through international pressure in 1990. Once released from prison, Nelson continued his campaign to end apartheid. His hard work and life long effort paid off when all races were allowed to vote in the 1994 election. Nelson Mandela won the election and became president of South Africa. There were several times during the process where violence threatened to break out. Nelson was a strong force in keeping the calm and preventing a major civil war. How long was Nelson Mandela in prison? He spent 27 years in prison. He refused to bend on his principals in order to be released and stated that he would die for his ideals. He wanted all people of all races to have equal rights in South Africa. Fun facts about Nelson Mandela

Nelson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. July 18th is Nelson Mandela day. People are asked to devote 67 minutes to helping others. The 67

minutes represents the 67 years Mandela spent serving his country. Invictus was a 2009 movie about Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team. He had six children and twenty grandchildren.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Biography

Occupation: Civil Rights Leader Born: January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, GA Died: April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN Best known for: Advancing the Civil Rights Movement and his "I Have a Dream" speech

Biography: Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights activist in the 1950s and 1960s. He led non-violent protests to fight for the rights of all people including African Americans. He hoped that America and the world could become a colorblind society where race would not impact a person's civil rights. He is considered one of the great orators of modern times, and his speeches still inspire many to this day. Where did Martin grow up? Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, GA on January 15, 1929. He went to Booker T. Washington High School. He was so smart that he skipped two grades in high school. He started his college education at Morehouse College at the young age of fifteen. After getting his degree in sociology from Morehouse, Martin got a divinity degree from Crozer Seminary and then got his doctor's degree in theology from Boston University. Martin's dad was a preacher which inspired Martin to pursue the ministry. He had a younger brother and an older sister. In 1953 he married Coretta Scott. Later, they would have four children including Yolanda, Martin, Dexter, and Bernice. How did he get involved in civil rights? In his first major civil rights action, Martin Luther King, Jr. led the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This started

when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. She was arrested and spent the night in jail. As a result, Martin helped to organize a boycott of the public transportation system in Montgomery. The boycott lasted for over a year. It was very tense at times. Martin was arrested and his house was bombed. In the end, however, Martin prevailed and segregation on the Montgomery buses came to an end. When did King give his famous "I Have a Dream" speech? In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. helped to organize the famous "March on Washington". Over 250,000 people attended this march in an effort to show the importance of civil rights legislation. Some of the issues the march hoped to accomplish included an end to segregation in public schools, protection from police abuse, and to get laws passed that would prevent discrimination in employment. It was at this march where Martin gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. This speech has become one of the most famous speeches in history. The March on Washington was a great success. The Civil Rights Act was passed a year later in 1964. How did he die? Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4. 1968 in Memphis, TN. While standing on the balcony of his hotel, he was shot by James Earl Ray. Interesting Facts about Martin Luther King, Jr.

King was the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a national holiday. At the Atlanta premier of the movie Gone with the Wind, Martin sang with his church choir. There are over 730 streets in the United States named after Martin Luther King, Jr. One of his main influences was Mohandas Gandhi who taught people to protest in a non-violent

manner. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The name on his original birth certificate is Michael King. This was a mistake, however. He was

supposed to be named after his father who was named for Martin Luther, the leader of the Christian reformation movement.

He is often referred to by his initials MLK.

Leonardo da Vinci

Back to Biographies

Occupation: Artist, Inventor, Scientist Born: April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy Died: May 2, 1519 in Amboise, Kingdom of France Famous works: Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, The Vitruvian Man Style/Period: High Renaissance

Biography:

Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, scientist, and inventor during the Italian Renaissance. He is considered by many to be one of the most talented and intelligent people of all time. The term Renaissance Man (someone who does many things very well) was coined from Leonardo's many talents and is today used to describe people who resemble da Vinci. Where was Leonardo da Vinci born? Leonardo was born in the town of Vinci, Italy on April 15, 1452. Not much is known about his childhood other than his father was wealthy and had a number of wives. About the age of 14 he became an apprentice to a famous artist named Verrocchio. This is where he learned about art, drawing, painting and more.

Leonardo the Artist Leonardo da Vinci is regarded as one of the greatest artists in history. Leonardo excelled in many areas including drawing, painting, and sculpture. Although we don't have a lot of his paintings today, he is probably most famous for his paintings and also gained great fame during his own time due to his paintings. Two of his most famous paintings, and perhaps two of the most famous in the world, include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Leonardo's drawings are also quite extraordinary. He would keep journals full of drawings and sketches, often of different subjects that he was studying. Some of his drawings were previews to later paintings, some were studies of anatomy, some were closer to scientific sketches. One famous drawing is the Vitruvian Man drawing. It is a picture of man who has perfect proportions based off the notes from the Roman architect Vitruvius. Other famous drawings include a design for a flying machine and a self portrait. Leonardo the Inventor and Scientist Many of da Vinci's drawings and journals were made in his pursuit of scientific knowledge and inventions. His journals were filled with over 13,000 pages of his observations of the world. He drew pictures and designs of hang gliders, helicopters, war machines, musical instruments, various pumps, and more. He was interested in civil engineering projects and designed a single span bridge, a way to divert the Arno River, and moveable barricades which would help protect a city in the case of attack. Many of his drawings were on the subject of anatomy. He studied the human body including many

drawings on muscles, tendons, and the human skeleton. He had detailed figures of various parts of the body including the heart, arms, and other internal organs. Leonardo didn't just study the human anatomy either. He also had a strong interest in horses as well as cows, frogs, monkeys, and other animals. Fun Facts about Leonardo da Vinci

The term Renaissance Man means someone who is good at everything. Leonardo is considered to be the ultimate Renaissance man.

Some people claim he invented the bicycle. He was very logical and used a process like the scientific method when investigating a subject. His Vitruvian man is on the Italian Euro coin. Only around 15 of his paintings are still around. The Mona Lisa is also called "La Giaconda" meaning the laughing one. Unlike some artists, Leonardo was very famous for his paintings while he was still alive. It's only

recently that we've realized what a great scientist and inventor he was.

Michelangelo

Biography >> Art History

Occupation: Sculptor, Painter, Architect Born: March 6, 1475 in Caprese, Italy Died: February 18, 1564 in Rome, Italy Famous works: David, the Pieta, and paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel Style/Period: Renaissance

Biography: Where did Michelangelo grow up? Michelangelo Buonarotti was born in Caprese, Italy on March 6, 1475. He was still young when his family moved to Florence where Michelangelo grew up. His mother died when he was only six years old. Growing up in Florence during the Italian Renaissance was the perfect environment for young Michelangelo. Even as a child all he wanted to do was paint and be an artist. His father, a local government official, wanted Michelangelo to go to school, but he had little interest in school. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to Domenico Ghirlandaio, a painter and artist. Training to be an Artist Michelangelo's talents became apparent as he worked for Ghirlandaio. Within a year or so he was sent to the powerful Medici family to continue his training under the sculptor Bertoldo di Geovanni. Michelangelo was able to work with some of the finest artists and philosophers of the time. Over the next few years Michelangelo produced many sculptures including Madonna of the Steps, Battle of the Centaurs, and Bacchus. The Pieta In 1496 Michelangelo moved to Rome. A year later he received a commission to make a sculpture called the Pieta. It would become one of the masterpieces of Renaissance art. The sculpture shows Jesus after he was crucified lying on the lap of his mother Mary. Today this sculpture sits in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It is the only piece of art that Michelangelo signed.

The Pieta

Statue of David Michelangelo's fame as a great artist began to grow. He returned to Florence and received another commission to create a large statue of David. It took him a couple of years to finish the giant statue. The piece of marble he began with was very tall and thin. Many people didn't think he could do much with it. He worked in secrecy, not letting anyone see it until it was finished.

Michelangelo's David

David became Michelangelo's most famous work of art. It is thirteen feet tall and was the largest statue made since Ancient Rome. It is considered by many experts in art to be a near perfect sculpture. Today the statue resides at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. Sistine Chapel In 1505 Michelangelo returned to Rome. He was commissioned by the Pope in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo considered himself to be a sculptor, but agreed to paint the Sistine Chapel for the Pope. He worked for four years, painting upside down on a scaffold in order to finish the painting. The painting was huge (141 feet long by 43 feet wide). It contained nine scenes from the Bible down its center and over 300 people.

A part of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

The most famous of all the scenes is The Creation of Adam. At the center of the scene, God's hand and Adam's hand nearly touch. This is one of the most recreated scenes in all of art and, along with the Mona Lisa, is one of the most famous paintings in history.

The Hands of God and Adam

The Face of God

Architect Michelangelo was a brilliant man of many talents. He also worked as an architect. In this way he was a true "Renaissance Man" along the lines of Leonardo da Vinci. He worked on the Medici Chapel, the Laurentian Library, and even the military fortifications of the city of Florence. Perhaps his most famous work was St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Interesting Facts about Michelangelo

His full name was Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. When he was seventeen he was hit on the nose by fellow artist Pietro Torrigiano in an argument.

His nose was severely broken as can be seen in the portraits we have of Michelangelo. He thought that the painter Rafael convinced the Pope to have him paint the Sistine Chapel out of

jealousy over his sculptures. He also painted The Last Judgment, a famous painting on the wall of the Sistine Chapel. No two of the 300 people painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel look alike. He was also a poet who wrote over 300 poems.

Christopher Columbus

Columbus arriving in the Americas

Occupation: Explorer Born: 1451 in Genoa, Italy Died: May 20, 1506 Best known for: Discovering America

Biography: Christopher Columbus is the explorer who is credited for discovering America. Of course, there were already people living in America at the time who we call Native Americans. There even was a European, Leif Ericsson, who had been to the America's before. However, it was Columbus' voyage that started the exploration and colonization of the Americas. Before the Voyage Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. He later lived in Lisbon where he worked as a trader. He learned how to make maps and navigate a ship. A Shortcut to China Columbus and his brother, Bartholomew, knew that there were great riches to be had in China and East Asia. However, traveling overland by the Silk Road was dangerous and a sea route around Africa seemed much too long. Columbus thought he could sail straight to China by crossing the Atlantic Ocean. It would turn out that Columbus was wrong. The Earth was much larger than he thought and there was another land, the Americas, between Europe and Asia. Three Ships and a Long Voyage Columbus spent years trying to convince someone to pay for his voyage. He first tried to get King John II of Portugal to pay for his journey, but the King was not interested. Finally, he was able to convince Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to pay for the trip. He set sail on August 12, 1492 with three ships named the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. The voyage was long and difficult. At one point his men threatened to mutiny and wanted to turn back. Columbus promised them he would turn back in two days if they didn't find land. In his journal, however, he wrote that he had no intention of turning back.

Finding Land On October 12, 1492 land was spotted. It was a small island in the Bahamas that Columbus would name San Salvador. He met natives there that he called Indians because he was convinced that he had landed on islands off the coast of East Asia. He also visited other islands in the Caribbean such as Cuba and Hispaniola.

The routes taken by Columbus on his four voyages

Click to see larger map Returning Home After making his discovery, Columbus was eager to return home to Spain and claim his riches. Only the Pinta and the Nina were able to return to Spain, however, as the Santa Maria wrecked off the coast of Hispaniola. Columbus left 43 men behind on the island to start up an outpost. Upon returning home, Columbus was treated like a hero. He presented some of the things he had found including turkeys, pineapples, and some natives he had captured. The King of Spain was pleased enough to fund future expeditions. More Voyages Columbus would make three more voyages to the Americas. He explored more of the Caribbean and even saw mainland America. He had some difficulties in being the local governor and was even arrested for his behavior and for mistreating some of the colonists. Columbus died on May 20, 1506. He died thinking he had discovered a shortcut to Asia across the Atlantic Ocean. He never knew what an amazing discovery he had made. Fun Facts about Christopher Columbus

Columbus was first buried in Spain, however his remains were later moved to Santo Domingo in the new world and then back, again, to Spain.

Columbus brought horses to the new world on his second voyage. In his original calculations, he thought that Asia would be 2,400 miles from Portugal. He was way

off. It is actually 10,000 miles away! Not to mention the huge continent in between. You can remember the date Columbus discovered America by using this rhyme "In 1492 Columbus

sailed the ocean blue". The sailor who was first to spot land on the voyage would receive a reward. The winner was

Rodrigo de Triana who spotted land from the crow's nest of the Pinta.

Albert Einstein

Occupation: Scientist and Inventor Born: March 14,1879 Ulm, in Germany Died: 18 April 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey Best known for: Theory of Relativity and E=mc2

Biography:

Albert Einstein was a scientist in the early 1900s. He came up with some of the most important discoveries and theories in all of science. Some people consider him to be one of the smartest people of the 20th century. His face and name are often used as the picture or description of the consummate scientist. Read here to learn more about Albert Einstein; what he was like and what discoveries and inventions he made. Where did Einstein grow up? Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany on March 14, 1879. He spent most of his childhood in Munich, Germany. His father had an electronics company and Albert learned a lot about science and electronics from his dad. He really liked math and wanted to pursue math and science in school. He didn't finish school in Germany, but ended up his schooling in Switzerland. Einstein would later move back to Bern, Germany and work in the patent office. Was Albert Einstein a US citizen? Albert immigrated to the United States in 1933. He was fleeing from the Nazis in Germany who didn't like Jewish people. If he had stayed in Germany he would not have been able to hold a teaching position at the University as a Jewish person. At one point the Nazis had a bounty on his head. In 1940 Einstein became a US citizen.

E=mc² and Einstein's Theory of Relativity Albert Einstein had many discoveries as a scientist, but is most known for his Theory of Relativity. This theory changed much in the way scientists look at the world and set the foundation for many modern inventions, including the nuclear bomb and nuclear energy. One equation from the theory is E=mc2. In this formula, "c" is the speed of light and is a constant. It is assumed to be the fastest speed possible in the universe. This formula explains how energy (E) is related to mass (m). The Theory of Relativity explained a lot of how time and distance may change due to the "relative" or different speed of the object and the observer.

What other discoveries is Albert Einstein noted for? Albert Einstein laid much of the foundation for modern physics. Some other of his discoveries include: Photons - In 1905 Einstein came up with the concept that light is made up of particles called photons. Most scientists of his day didn't agree, but later experiments in 1919 showed this to be the case. This became an important discovery for many branches of science and he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. Bose-Einstein Condensate - Together with another scientist, Satyendra Bose, Einstien discovered another state of matter. Sort of like liquid or gas or solid states. Today this discovery is used in cool stuff like lasers and superconductors. Einstein wrote many papers which included theories and models that would help define and move forward our understanding of the world and particularly quantum physics. Some of his work included subjects from a model for a wormhole to the Einstein refrigerator. The Atomic Bomb Albert Einstein did not work directly on inventing the Atomic bomb, but his name is closely associated with the bomb. This is because his scientific work and discoveries were key in the bomb's development, specifically his work on energy and mass and his famous equation: E=mc2. Fun Facts about Albert Einstein

Albert experienced speech problems as a child. His parents were worried that he wasn't very smart! He failed his first try on his entrance exam for college (this gives u all hope!). He was offered the presidency of Israel. He auctioned off a hand written version of his Theory of Relativity in 1940 for 6 million dollars in

order to help with the war effort.

Galileo Galilei

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Occupation: Scientist, mathematician, and Astronomer Born: February 15, 1564 in Pisa, Italy Died: January 8, 1642 Tuscany, Italy Best known for: Improving the telescope to be used to study the planets and stars

Biography:

Early Life Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy where he grew up with his brothers and sisters during the Italian Renaissance. His father was a music teacher and a famous musician. His family moved to the city of Florence when he was ten years old. It was in Florence that Galileo began his education at the Camaldolese monastery. Galileo was an accomplished musician and an excellent student. At first he wanted to become a doctor, so he went to the University of Pisa to study medicine in 1581. A Budding Scientist While at university, Galileo became interested in physics and mathematics. One of his first scientific observations was with a lamp hanging from the ceiling in the cathedral. He noticed that despite how far the lamp swung, it took the same amount of time to swing back and forth. This observation didn't agree with the common scientific principals of the day.

In 1585, Galileo left the university and got a job as a teacher. He began to experiment with pendulums, levers, balls, and other objects. He tried to describe how they moved using mathematic equations. He even invented an advanced measuring device called the hydrostatic balance. The Scientific Method During the time of Galileo, there weren't really "scientists" as we know them today. People studied the works of the classical philosophers and thinkers such as Aristotle. They didn't run experiments or test out the ideas. They just believed them to be true. Galileo, however, had different ideas. He wanted to test the principals and see if he could observe them in the real world. This was a new concept to the people of his time and laid the foundation for the scientific method. Tower of Pisa Experiment One of the traditional beliefs was that if you dropped two items of different weights, but the same size and shape, the heavier item would land first. Galileo tested this idea by going to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He dropped two balls of the same size, but different weights. They landed at the same time! Galileo's experiments made some people angry, however. They didn't want the traditional views to be questioned. In 1592, Galileo moved from Pisa to the University of Padua, where he was permitted to experiment and discuss new ideas. Copernicus Copernicus was an astronomer who lived in the early 1500s. He came up with the idea that the Sun was the center of the universe. This was very different from the current belief that the Earth was the center. Galileo began to study Copernicus' work and felt that his observations of the planets supported the view that the Sun was the center. This view was highly controversial. Telescope In 1609, Galileo heard of an invention from Holland called the telescope that could make far away items appear much closer. He decided to build his own telescope. He made great improvements to the telescope and began to use it to view the planets. Soon Galileo's version of the telescope was used throughout Europe. Astronomer Galileo made many discoveries using his telescope including the four large moons around Jupiter and the phases of the planet Venus. He also discovered sunspots and learned that the Moon was not smooth, but was covered with craters. Prison As Galileo studied the planets and the Sun, he became convinced that the Earth and the other planets orbited the Sun. In 1632, he wrote a book called the Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. In this book he described why he thought the Earth orbited the Sun. However, the powerful Catholic Church considered Galileo's ideas as heresy. At first they sentenced him to life in prison, but later allowed him to live at his home in Tuscany under house arrest.

Death Galileo continued to write while under house arrest. In his later years he became blind. He died on January 8, 1642. Interesting Facts about Galileo

Galileo published the first scientific paper based on observations made through a telescope in 1610. It was called The Starry Messenger.

In later years, the Catholic Church changed their views on Galileo and stated that they regretted how he was treated.

Galileo noticed that the planet Saturn wasn't round. It was later discovered that Saturn had rings. A year before his death he came up with a pendulum design used for keeping time. He once said that "The Sun, with all those planets revolving around it…can still ripen a bunch of

grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do."

Isaac Newton

Occupation: Scientist, mathematician, and astronomer Born: January 4, 1643 in Woolsthorpe, England Died: March 31, 1727 in London, England Best known for: Defining the three laws of motion and

universal gravitation

Biography: Isaac Newton is considered one of the most important scientists in history. Even Albert Einstein said that Isaac Newton was the smartest person that ever lived. During his lifetime Newton developed the theory of gravity, the laws of motion (which became the basis for physics), a new type of mathematics called calculus, and made breakthroughs in the area of optics such as the reflecting telescope. Early Life Isaac Newton was born in Woolsthorpe, England on January 4, 1643. His father, a farmer who was also named Isaac Newton, had died three months before his birth. His mother remarried when Isaac was three years old and left young Isaac in the care of his grandparents. Isaac attended school where he was an adequate student. At one point his mother tried to take him out of school so he could help on the farm, but Isaac had no interest in becoming a farmer and was soon back at school. Isaac grew up mostly alone. For the rest of his life he would prefer to work and live alone focused on his writing and his studies. College and Career In 1661, Isaac began to attend college at Cambridge. He would spend much of his life at Cambridge, becoming a professor of mathematics and a fellow of the Royal Society (a group of scientists in England). He eventually was elected to represent Cambridge University as a member of parliament. Isaac had to leave Cambridge from 1665 to 1667 because of the Great Plague. He spent these two years in study and isolation at his home in Woolsthorpe developing his theories on calculus, gravity, and the laws of motion. In 1696 Newton became the warden of the Royal Mint in London. He took his duties seriously and tried to

get rid of corruption as well as to reform the currency of England. He was elected President of the Royal Society in 1703 and was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705.

The Principia In 1687 Newton published his most important work called the Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (which means "Mathematical principals of Natural Philosophy"). In this work he described the three laws of motion as well as the law of universal gravity. This work would go down as one of the most important works in the history of science. It not only introduced the theory of gravity, but defined the principals of modern physics.

Scientific Discoveries Isaac Newton made many scientific discoveries and inventions throughout his career. Here is a list of some of the most important and famous ones.

Gravity - Newton is probably most famous for discovering gravity. Outlined in the Principia, his theory about gravity helped to explain the movements of the planets and the Sun. This theory is known today as Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Laws of Motion - Newton's laws of motion were three fundamental laws of physics that laid the foundation for classical mechanics.

Calculus - Newton invented a whole new type of mathematics which he called "fluxions." Today we call this math calculus and it is an important type of math used in advanced engineering and science.

Reflecting Telescope - In 1668 Newton invented the reflecting telescope. This type of telescope uses mirrors to reflect light and form an image. Nearly all of the major telescopes used in astronomy today are reflecting telescopes.

Legacy Newton died on March 31, 1727 in London, England. Today, he is considered one of the most influential scientists of all time alongside greats such as Albert Einstein, Aristotle, and Galileo. Interesting Facts about Isaac Newton

He studied many classic philosophers and astronomers such as Aristotle, Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, Rene Descartes, and Galileo.

Legend has it that Newton got his inspiration for gravity when he saw an apple fall from a tree on his farm.

He wrote his thoughts down in the Principia at the urging of his friend (and famous astronomer) Edmond Halley. Halley even paid for the book's publication.

He once said of his own work "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants."

Johannes Gutenberg

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. While this may not sound like a big deal at first, the printing press is often considered as the most important invention in modern times. Think about how important information is today. Without books and computers you wouldn't be able to learn, to pass on information, or to share scientific discoveries. Prior to Gutenberg inventing the printing press, making a book was a laborious process. It wasn't that hard to write a letter to one person by hand, but to create thousands of books for many people to read was nearly impossible. Without the printing press we wouldn't have had the Scientific Revolution or the Renaissance. Our world would be very different. Where did Johannes Gutenberg grow up? Johannes was born in Mainz, Germany around the year 1398. He was the son of a Goldsmith. Not a whole lot more is known about his childhood. It appears he moved a few times around Germany, but that's about all is known for sure.

What did Gutenberg invent? Gutenberg took some existing technologies and some of his own inventions to come up with the printing press in the year 1450. One key idea he came up with was moveable type. Rather than use wooden blocks to press ink onto paper, Gutenberg used moveable metal pieces to quickly create pages. He made innovations all the way through the printing process enabling pages to be printed much more rapidly. His presses could print 1000's of pages per day vs. 40-50 with the old method. This was a dramatic improvement and allowed books to be acquired by the middle class and spread knowledge and education like never before. The invention of the printing press spread rapidly throughout Europe and soon thousands of books were being printed on printing presses.

What books were first printed by the Gutenberg press? It's thought that the first printed item from the press was a German poem. Other prints included Latin Grammars and indulgences for the Catholic Church. Gutenberg's real fame came from producing the Gutenberg Bible. It was the first time a Bible was mass produced and available for anyone outside of the church. Bibles were rare and could take up to a year for a priest to transcribe. Gutenberg printed around 200 of these in a relatively short time. Fun Facts about Gutenberg

In 1462 he was exiled from Mainz. However, things turned around for him and in 1465 he was given a fancy title, a yearly salary, and more as a reward for his invention.

The original Bible sold for 30 florins. This was a lot of money back then for a commoner, but much, much cheaper than a hand written version.

There are around 21 complete Gutenberg Bibles existing still today. One of these Bibles is likely worth around $30 million.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Occupation: Emperor of France Born: August 15, 1769 at Ajaccio, Corsica, France Died: May 5, 1821 at St. Helena, United Kingdom Best known for: A brilliant military commander, conquered much of Europe Nickname: Little Corporal

Biography: Where did Napoleon grow up? Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769 in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. His father was Carlo Buonaparte, an important attorney who represented Corsica at the court of the French King. He had four brothers and three sisters including an older brother named Joseph. Early Life Coming from a fairly wealthy family, Napoleon was able to attend school and get a good education. He went to a military academy in France and trained to become an officer in the army. When his father died in 1785, Napoleon returned to Corsica to help handle the family's affairs. While in Corsica, Napoleon became involved with a local revolutionary named Pasquale Paoli. For a while he helped Paoli in fighting against the French occupation of Corsica. However, he later changed sides and returned to France. French Revolution While Napoleon was in Corsica, the French Revolution occurred in Paris, France. The people revolted

against the King of France and took control of the country. The royal family and many aristocrats were killed. Upon Napoleon's return, he allied himself with a radical group of the revolutionaries called the Jacobins. He received a position as the artillery commander at the Siege of Toulon in 1793. The city of Toulon was occupied by British troops and the British navy had control over the port. Napoleon came up with a strategy that helped to defeat the British and force them out of the port. His military leadership in the battle was recognized by the leaders of France and, at the young age of 24, he was promoted to the position of brigadier general. Military Commander In 1796, Napoleon was given command of the French army in Italy. When he arrived in Italy, he found the army to be poorly organized and losing to the Austrians. Napoleon, however, was an ambitious man and a brilliant general. He used superior organization in order to move troops rapidly around the battlefield so they would always outnumber the enemy. He soon drove the Austrians out of Italy and became a national hero. Becoming Dictator After leading a military expedition in Egypt, Napoleon returned to Paris in 1799. The political climate in France was changing. The current government, called the Directory, was losing power. Together with his allies, including his brother Lucien, Napoleon formed a new government called the Consulate. Initially, there were to be three consuls at the head of the government, but Napoleon gave himself the title of First Consul. His powers as First Consul essentially made him dictator of France. Ruling France As the dictator of France, Napoleon was able to institute a number of government reforms. One of these reforms was the famous Napoleonic Code. This code said that government positions would not be appointed based on a person's birth or religion, but on their qualifications and ability. This was a big change in the French government. Before the Napoleonic Code, high positions were given to aristocrats by the king in return for favors. This often led to incompetent people in important positions. Napoleon also helped to improve the French economy by building new roads and encouraging business. He reestablished the Catholic Church as the official state religion, but at the same time allowed for freedom of religion to those who weren't Catholic. Napoleon also set up non-religious schools, so anyone could get an education. Napoleon's power and control continued to grow with his reforms. In 1804, he was crowned the first Emperor France. At the coronation, he did not allow the Pope to place the crown on his head, but instead crowned himself. Conquering Europe Initially, Napoleon maintained peace in Europe, however, soon France was at war with Britain, Austria, and Russia. After losing a naval battle against Britain at the Battle of Trafalgar, Napoleon decided to attack Austria. He soundly defeated the Austrian and Russian armies at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Over the next several years, Napoleon expanded the French Empire. At its greatest extent in 1811, France controlled much of Europe from Spain to the borders of Russia (not including Britain). Invasion of Russia

In 1812, Napoleon made his first major mistake. He decided to invade Russia. Napoleon marched a huge army to Russia. Many of them starved to death along the way. After a fierce battle with the Russian army, Napoleon entered Moscow. However, he found the city deserted. Soon, the city was on fire and many of the supplies were burned. As winter approached, Napoleon's army ran out of supplies. He had to return to France. By the time he returned to France, most of what was left of his army had died from the weather or starved to death.

Napoleon returning from Russia

Exile on Elba With much of Napoleon's army decimated from the invasion in Russia, the rest of Europe now turned on France. Despite winning a few victories, Napoleon had too small an army and soon was forced into exile on the island of Elba in 1814. Return and Waterloo Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815. The army quickly backed him and he took over control of Paris for a period called the Hundred Days. The rest of Europe, however, would not stand for a return of Napoleon. They gathered their armies and met him at Waterloo. Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815 and was once again forced into exile. This time on the island of Saint Helena.

Napoleon in Exile

Death Napoleon died after six years of exile on Saint Helena on May 5, 1821. It is likely that he died from stomach cancer. His remains were moved to France in 1840 to Les Invalides in Paris. Interesting Facts about Napoleon

Napoleon is famous for being fairly short, probably 5 feet 6 inches tall. However, he would have been average height during the time period that he lived.

Today, when someone seems to be overcompensating for being short they are said to have a "Napoleon complex."

His birth name was Napoleone di Buonaparte. He changed the name to be more French when he moved to mainland France.

He married his first wife, Josephine, in 1796. She became the first Empress of France, but he divorced her in 1810 and married Marie-Louise of Austria.

The famous composer Beethoven was going to dedicate his 3rd Symphony to Napoleon, but changed his mind after Napoleon crowned himself emperor.

He wrote a romance novel called Clisson et Eugenie.