A person who influenced the course of social science history. Ten people who changed the course of history and the consciousness of mankind over the last millennium

There are a great many people who changed the world. These are famous doctors who invented cures for diseases and learned how to perform complex operations; politicians who started wars and conquered countries; astronauts who first orbited the Earth and set foot on the Moon, and so on. There are thousands of them, and it is impossible to tell about them all. This article lists only a small part of these geniuses, thanks to whom scientific discoveries, new reforms and trends in art appeared. They are individuals who changed the course of history.

Alexander Suvorov

The great commander who lived in the 18th century became a cult person. He is a figure who has influenced the course of history through his mastery of strategy and skillful planning of war tactics. His name is written in golden letters in the annals of Russian history; he is remembered as a tireless, brilliant military commander.

Alexander Suvorov devoted his entire life to battles and battles. He is a participant in seven wars, led 60 battles without knowing defeat. His literary talent manifested itself in a book in which he teaches the younger generation the art of war, sharing his experience and knowledge. In this area, Suvorov was many years ahead of his era.

His merit lies primarily in the fact that he improved the tendencies of warfare and developed new methods of offensives and attacks. His entire science was based on three pillars: pressure, speed and eye. This principle developed the soldiers' sense of purpose, development of initiative and a sense of mutual assistance in relation to their colleagues. In battles, he always walked ahead of ordinary military men, showing them an example of courage and heroism.

Catherine II

This woman is a phenomenon. Like all other personalities who influenced the course of history, she was charismatic, strong and intelligent. She was born in Germany, but in 1744 she came to Russia as a bride for the Empress’s nephew, Grand Duke Peter the Third. Her husband was uninteresting and apathetic, they hardly communicated. Catherine spent all her free time reading legal and economic works; she was captivated by the idea of ​​the Enlightenment. Having found like-minded people at court, she easily overthrew her husband from the throne and became the full-fledged ruler of the Russian Empire.

The period of her reign is called “golden” for the nobility. The ruler reformed the Senate, took church lands into the state treasury, which enriched the state and made life easier for ordinary peasants. In this case, the influence of an individual on the course of history implies the adoption of a mass of new legislative acts. On Catherine’s account: provincial reform, expansion of the rights and freedoms of the nobility, the creation of estates following the example of Western European society and the restoration of Russia’s authority throughout the world.

Peter the First

Another ruler of Russia, who lived a hundred years earlier than Catherine, also played a huge role in the development of the state. He is not just a person who influenced the course of history. Peter 1 became a national genius. He was hailed as an educator, a “beacon of the era,” the savior of Russia, a man who opened the eyes of the common people to the European style of life and government. Remember the phrase “window to Europe”? So, it was Peter the Great who “cut through” it in spite of all the envious people.

Tsar Peter became a great reformer; his changes in state foundations at first frightened the nobility, and then aroused admiration. This is a person who influenced the course of history in that, thanks to him, progressive discoveries and achievements of Western countries were introduced into “hungry and unwashed” Russia. Peter the Great managed to expand the economic and cultural borders of his empire and conquered new lands. Russia was recognized as a great power and its role in the international arena was appreciated.

Alexander II

After Peter the Great, this was the only tsar who began to carry out such large-scale reforms. His innovations completely renewed the appearance of Russia. Like other famous personalities who changed the course of history, this ruler deserved respect and recognition. The period of his reign falls on the 19th century.

The tsar's main achievement was in Russia, which hampered the economic and cultural development of the country. Of course, Alexander the Second’s predecessors, Catherine the Great and Nicholas the First, also thought about eliminating a system very similar to slavery. But none of them decided to turn the foundations of the state upside down.

Such drastic changes occurred quite late, since a rebellion of dissatisfied people was already brewing in the country. In addition, reforms stalled in the 1880s, which angered revolutionary youth. The reformer Tsar became the target of their terror, which led to the end of the reforms and completely influenced the development of Russia in the future.

Lenin

Vladimir Ilyich, a famous revolutionary, a personality who influenced the course of history. Lenin led a revolt in Russia against the autocracy. He led the revolutionaries to the barricades, as a result of which Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown and the communists came to power, whose rule spanned a century and led to significant, dramatic changes in the lives of ordinary people.

Studying the works of Engels and Marx, Lenin advocated equality and strongly condemned capitalism. The theory is good, but in reality it was difficult to implement, since the representatives of the elite still lived in luxury, while ordinary workers and peasants worked hard around the clock. But that was later, during Lenin’s time, at first glance, everything turned out the way he wanted it.

The period of Lenin's reign included such important events as the First World War, the Civil War in Russia, the cruel and absurd execution of the entire royal family, the transfer of the capital from St. Petersburg to Moscow, the founding of the Red Army, the complete establishment of Soviet power and the adoption of its first Constitution.

Stalin

People who changed the course of history... On their list, the name of Joseph Vissarionovich glows in bright scarlet letters. He became the "terrorist" of his time. The establishment of a network of camps, the exile of millions of innocent people there, the execution of entire families for dissent, artificial famine - all this radically changed people's lives. Some considered Stalin to be the devil, others to be God, since it was he who at that time decided the fate of every citizen of the Soviet Union. He was neither one nor the other, of course. The intimidated people themselves put him on a pedestal. The cult of personality was created on the basis of universal fear and the blood of the innocent victims of the era.

The personality who influenced the course of history, Stalin, distinguished himself not only by mass terror. Of course, his contribution to Russian history also has a positive side. It was during his reign that the state made a powerful economic breakthrough, scientific institutions and culture began to develop. It was he who stood at the head of the army that defeated Hitler and saved all of Europe from fascism.

Nikita Khrushchev

This is a very controversial personality who influenced the course of history. His versatile nature is well demonstrated by the tombstone erected for him, which was simultaneously made of white and black stone. Khrushchev, on the one hand, was Stalin’s man, and on the other, a leader who tried to trample on the cult of personality. He began radical reforms that were supposed to completely change the bloody system, released millions of innocent prisoners from the camps, and pardoned hundreds of thousands of those sentenced to death. This period was even called the “thaw”, as persecution and terror ceased.

But Khrushchev did not know how to bring big things to the end, so his reforms can be called half-hearted. His lack of education made him a narrow-minded person, but his excellent intuition, natural common sense and political instincts helped him stay in the highest echelons of power for so long and find a way out in critical situations. It was thanks to Khrushchev that it was possible to avoid a nuclear war during and also turn the bloodiest page in the history of Russia.

Dmitriy Mendeleev

Russia gave birth to many great generalists who improved various areas of science. But Mendeleev is worth highlighting, since his contribution to its development is invaluable. Chemistry, physics, geology, economics, sociology - Mendeleev managed to study all this and open new horizons in these fields. He was also a famous shipbuilder, aeronaut and encyclopedist.

The person who influenced the course of history, Mendeleev, discovered a way to predict the appearance of new chemical elements, the discovery of which continues to this day. His table is the basis of chemistry lessons at school and university. Among his achievements is also a complete study of gas dynamics, experiments that helped to derive the equation of state of gas.

In addition, the scientist actively studied the properties of oil, developed a policy for injecting investment into the economy and proposed optimizing the customs service. Many ministers of the tsarist government used his invaluable advice.

Ivan Pavlov

Like all individuals who influenced the course of history, he was a very smart person, had a broad outlook and inner intuition. Ivan Pavlov actively used animals in his experiments, trying to identify common features of the life activity of complex organisms, including humans.

Pavlov was able to prove the diverse activity of nerve endings in the cardiovascular system. He showed how he could regulate blood pressure. He also became the discoverer of the trophic nervous function, which consists in the influence of nerves on the process of regeneration and tissue formation.

He later became involved in the physiology of the digestive tract, as a result of which he received the Nobel Prize in 1904. His main achievement is considered to be the study of the functioning of the brain, higher nervous activity, conditioned reflexes and the so-called human signal system. His works became the basis of many theories in medicine.

Mikhail Lomonosov

He lived and worked during the reign of Peter the Great. Then the emphasis was placed on the development of education and enlightenment, and the first Academy of Sciences was created in Russia, in which Lomonosov spent many of his days. He, a simple peasant, was able to rise to incredible heights, run up the social ladder and turn into a scientist, whose trail of fame stretches to this day.

He was interested in everything related to physics and chemistry. He dreamed of freeing the latter from the influence of medicine and pharmaceuticals. It was thanks to him that modern physical chemistry was born as a science and began to actively develop. In addition, he was a famous encyclopedist, studied history and wrote chronicles. He considered Peter the Great an ideal ruler, a key figure in the formation of the state. In his scientific works, he described him as an example of a mind that changed history and turned the idea of ​​the management system upside down. Through the efforts of Lomonosov, the first university in Russia was founded - Moscow. Since that time, higher education began to develop.

Yuri Gagarin

People who influenced the course of history... It is difficult to imagine their list without the name of Yuri Gagarin, the man who conquered space. Star space has attracted people for many centuries, but only in the last century did humanity begin to explore it. At that time, the technical base for such flights was already well developed.

The space age was marked by competition between the Soviet Union and the United States. The leaders of giant countries tried to show their power and superiority, and space was one of the best options to demonstrate this. In the middle of the 20th century, competition began over who could send a person into orbit the fastest. The USSR won this race. We all know the landmark date from school: April 12, 1961, the first cosmonaut flew into orbit, where he spent 108 minutes. This hero's name was Yuri Gagarin. The day after his journey into space, he woke up famous throughout the world. Although, paradoxically, I never considered myself great. Gagarin often said that in those hour and a half he did not even have time to understand what was happening to him and what his feelings were.

Alexander Pushkin

He is called "the sun of Russian poetry." He has long become a national symbol of Russia, his poems, poems and prose are highly valued and revered. And not only in the countries of the former Soviet Union, but throughout the world. Almost every city in Russia has a street, square or square named after Alexander Pushkin. Children study his work at school, devoting him not only during school hours, but also outside of school hours in the form of themed literary evenings.

This man created such harmonious poetry that it has no equal in the whole world. It was with his work that the development of new literature and all its genres began - from poetry to theatrical plays. Pushkin is read in one breath. It is characterized by accuracy and rhythm of lines, they are quickly remembered and easily recited. If we also take into account the enlightenment of this person, his strength of character and deep inner core, then we can say that he is truly a person who influenced the course of history. He taught the people to speak Russian in its modern interpretation.

Other historical figures

There are so many of them that it would be impossible to list them all in one article. Here are examples of a small part of Russian figures who changed history. How many others are there? This is Gogol, and Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy. If we analyze foreign personalities, we cannot help but note the ancient philosophers: Aristotle and Plato; artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, Monet; geographers and discoverers of lands: Magellan, Cook and Columbus; scientists: Galileo and Newton; politicians: Thatcher, Kennedy and Hitler; inventors: Bell and Edison.

All these people were able to completely turn the world upside down, create their own laws and scientific discoveries. Some of them made the world a better place, while others almost destroyed it. In any case, every person on planet Earth knows their names and understands that without these individuals our life would be completely different. Reading the biographies of famous people, we often find idols for ourselves, from whom we want to take an example and be equal in all our deeds and actions.

Text from the Unified State Examination

(1) History is not faceless. (2) Many names are carved on its pages, the memory of which survives centuries, decades. (3) These are the names of the heroes. (4) At all times, people have revered heroes. (5) They were the national pride of the peoples, stories about them were passed down from generation to generation, legends were formed. (b) Thousands and thousands of volumes in many languages ​​of the world depict the deeds and accomplishments of heroic individuals. (7) Streets and squares are named after heroes, exhibitions in museums are dedicated to them, songs are sung and poems are written about them. (8) Upon superficial examination, one may get the impression that only great people - the heroes of history - carry out its affairs. (9) For centuries this view of the role of outstanding individuals, heroes among the crowd, was dominant. (10) Such views on the role of heroes in human history were also “justified” theoretically. (11) The English thinker Thomas Carlyle, in his book “Heroes, Hero Cult and the Heroic in History,” argued that world history is, in essence, the history of great people. (12) In his opinion, the hero who possesses the traits of cruelty, merciless authority and determination to use force is capable of playing a messianic role in history.

(13) Russian sociologist Nikolai Mikhailovsky wrote in his work “The Hero and the Crowd” that the hero is the main creator of history. (14) Modern life, he argued, empties the consciousness of people and paralyzes their will, as a result of which the masses turn into a “crowd.” (15) And only a “hero” is able to raise and captivate her to a feat or crime.

(16) Such views, expressing the essence of the theories of “elites”, “leaders”, in a camouflaged form affirm the historical conditionality of the power of a selected minority, the need for a “strong hand” among those who are at the top of the pyramid of power.

(17) G.V. Plekhanov, wittily ridiculing this theory, wrote that for the populists, the masses represent an endless series of zeros. (18) Only one can turn this chain of zeros into a positive value - the hero, standing at the head of the faceless row. “(19) A great man,” wrote G.V. Plekhanov, in his work “On the Question of the Role of the Individual in History,” is great... in that he has characteristics that make him most capable of serving the great social needs of his time... (20) A great man is precisely a beginner, because he sees further others and wants more than others. (21) He solves scientific problems put on the agenda by the previous course of mental development of society; it indicates new social needs created by the previous development of social relations; he takes upon himself the satisfaction of these needs. (22) He is a hero. (23) Not in the sense that a hero can stop or change the natural course of things, but in the sense that his activity is a conscious and free expression of this necessary and unconscious course.” (24) Outstanding personalities and heroes appear when people need them. (25) If the actions of these individuals coincide with the main progressive trends in social development and the interests of the advanced classes, their role is exceptionally great.

(According to D.A. Volkogonov)

Introduction

History is accomplished by the interaction of huge masses of people. But at the head of events there is always someone leading the process or someone who was able to turn what was happening in a different direction, turn the tide of history.

Problem

Who are these people? What is their significance for society and history? Can one person influence the course of historical events? V.A. reflects on the role of personality in history. Volkogonov in his text, comparing the points of view on this issue of various philosophers.

A comment

Heroes stand at the head of history, they leave memories of themselves for all times, they are revered, admired, legends and traditions are made about them. Streets are named after them, exhibitions are dedicated to them, poems and songs are written to their glory.

For example, Thomas Cargail, an Englishman, assured that it is great people who are at the head of history. They, even endowed with the traits of cruelty and unquestioningness, become saviors for society.

Another thinker, Nikolai Mikhailovsky, also asserts the dominant role of the hero in history. The common man in our time is so impersonal and paralyzed that he is unable to influence history; he simply does not think about it. The crowd is not able to move forward on its own; only the hero is able to direct it to the right path.

G.V. Plekhanov presents a different point of view. In his opinion, any person who is able to look far into the future and who wants change more than anyone can become a historical maker. He is a beginner, solving problems posed by previous generations. He undertakes to meet the needs of his people.

Author's position

Volkogonov is close to Plekhanov’s position. He shares the idea that the hero sees further than others, all his actions express the decisive course of history.

Your position

Volkogonov’s position is close and understandable to me. Indeed, a hero is not only a representative of high society with power. First of all, this is a person who understands the needs of his people and fights for their well-being.

Argument No. 1

Remembering the classics, we find confirmation of this. L.N. Tolstoy, in his epic novel War and Peace, depicts the course of history over decades, and one of the main themes of the novel is the role of the individual in history. The work presents images of emperors and generals - Napoleon, Alexander the First, Kutuzov. Which one is truly the hero guiding the course of history?

Tolstoy believes that a true hero reflects the interests of the people and follows the people's morality. Alexander the First does not understand the needs of the people at all, does not know what is important for his people and country at the moment. Napoleon is so vain and ambitious that he does not understand at all what he is pushing his troops to do. Kutuzov seems to Tolstoy to be the true leader and maker of history, because he strives to realize the interests of an entire people. He becomes an exponent of the people's soul and the embodiment of patriotism.

Argument No. 2

The problem of the role of personality in history is raised by F.M. Dostoevsky in the novel “Crime and Punishment”. The true reason for Raskolnikov's actions is the murder of an old pawnbroker and her feeble-minded pregnant sister - a test of the effectiveness of his own theory. Raskolnikov divided people into two types: “those with the right” and “trembling creatures.”

The former create history by breaking the law, the latter obediently follow the will of the former. Napoleon, Mohammed and many other leaders shed blood and were criminals. It is they, according to Rodion, who move the course of history and guide humanity forward.

But Raskolnikov's theory turned out to be false. It was not confirmed. Above all the others in terms of fortitude was a little girl, humiliated and insulted, Sonya Marmeladova. And Raskolnikov himself, testing the effectiveness of the theory, subjected himself to incredible torture.

Conclusion

The problem of the role of personality in history is multifaceted and complex. It is also relevant in our modern life, when the world is in limbo, when people close to power are ready to use any means to achieve their goals.

The German philosopher Karl Jaspers wrote that man strives to understand history as a whole in order to understand himself with its help. History is a memory for us, it is a foundation, once laid, a connection with which we maintain if we do not want to disappear without a trace, but to make our contribution to culture. History helps us better understand human nature. Looking at the history of mankind, we can say that its events occurred under the influence of two types of reasons: objective and subjective. Under objective reasons historical process is understood as natural, climatic and economic conditions, under subjective – actions of people that are performed in accordance with some intentions, ideas, emotions, etc. History, unlike nature, cannot develop without people; history is created by people, not by transpersonal forces. But despite the fact that the laws of society act through people and thanks to people, they are objective. Social laws are statistical in nature; they are laws-trends that develop as a result of the actions of individuals. Through his activities, a person softens or strengthens the effect of social laws, slows down or accelerates them, but a person cannot abolish the law.

Can a person influence the course of historical events? If we proceed from the idea that history is fatal and there are strict laws in it that cannot be influenced, then, obviously, the answer will be this: an individual cannot leave his unique mark on history. But it is more correct to believe that history is not fatal; each historical situation leaves several options for the further development of events. The actions of individuals who accidentally or naturally found themselves on the crest of a historical wave determine which of the possibilities will be realized. People are not puppets, but active participants in history. Of course, a person acts in given circumstances, his personality is formed in certain conditions, but, being what he is, a person is still free, he can prefer one or another course of action and push the development of the situation in a certain direction. In a word, there is no fatality in history, and every person can prove himself. According to Arnold Toynbee, personality is equal to history, since without personality history does not exist. It should only be added that in every historical situation there are many people acting, and they all have their own intentions, plans, and are driven by passions and ideas. The general vector of history is made up of the actions of millions, but the anonymity of the historical process does not negate its personal nature.

History is made by many people, but certain groups or individuals, due to special position, power or random circumstances, can influence the course of the historical process more seriously than others. People who find themselves at the peak of historical events - leaders, military leaders, religious figures - make decisions, give orders, sign treaties, these acts of their personal will influence the course of events, both positive and negative. If we keep in mind the history of culture, then the personal factor becomes even more significant; spiritual history is made by individuals, and not by large masses of people.

The very fact of the promotion of a particular personality to the forefront of history is an accident, but in order to be commensurate with the circumstances, the personality must have very specific properties. Modern social psychology argues that all great historical figures have charisma. Charisma is understood as exceptional talent, as special personality qualities that evoke respect from others and subordinate them to the will of a charismatic figure, as the art of charming people and captivating them with oneself. As the French sociologist Serge Moscovici argues, this attraction silences all moral doubts, overturns all legitimate opposition to the leader and often turns the usurper into a hero. The main quality of a charismatic personality is faith. A charismatic leader believes in everything he says or does; for him, the struggle for power coincides with the struggle for the interests of the people, the revolution or the party. Hegel said that great personalities do not belong to themselves, they act as the face, will and spirit of the people.

A special quality of a charismatic personality is the predominance of courage over intelligence. According to Serge Moscovici, there are quite a lot of people in politics who are able to analyze the situation and propose a solution; they are advisors, experts and implementers, but theory means nothing without the will to action and the ability to captivate people. An important characteristic of a charismatic personality is authority, the person who possesses it forces obedience and, therefore, achieves what he strives for. Moscovici distinguishes between the authority of a position and the authority of an individual. Authority of the position a person acquires along with belonging to a certain class, estate or influential family, this authority is transmitted along with tradition, and even if a person does not have any personal significance and personal talents, his authority is ensured by a place in the social hierarchy. Personal authority does not depend on external signs of power or social status, it comes from a personality that charms, attracts, inspires. In stable and hierarchically structured societies, official authority predominates; in modern societies with great opportunities for horizontal and vertical mobility, the main authority becomes the authority of the individual.

But a charismatic personality, despite all the possibilities and abilities, does not have absolute freedom. It’s a paradox, but as much as a charismatic personality controls the masses, he is equally dependent on the masses. Without a crowd there is no leader. No one person, even a charismatic one, can influence the course of history alone; his will must be embodied in the joint actions of many people. Thus, the individual and the masses are two opposite poles of the historical process, determining its course and content.

So, patterns in the historical process do not exclude, but presuppose the free action of man; historical events are formed from the actions of individual people, and their result may be completely unexpected. Freedom and necessity in history are closely related; the necessity of the historical process is realized through the free actions of individuals pursuing their own private interests. As the economist Adam Smith wrote, by pursuing his own interests, a person often serves the interests of society more effectively than when he consciously strives to do so.

• See paragraph 3.6.

Have you ever taken any action that turned a situation around and left you feeling as if you had just defied fate itself and defeated it? But, despite all the results, your action could only be decisive in some small situation and could not in any way influence society and, especially, the whole world. Although, there were those in history who were able to turn its course and make it go according to their own scenario.

Here is a list of 10 outstanding personalities who, through their actions, were able to change the whole world and history so much that we still see the consequences of their actions. This is not a top or even a comparative article; historical figures are arranged by the dates of their lives and deeds.

Euclid, father of mathematics

Numbers, addition, division, tens, fractions - what do these words refer to? That's right, back to math! It is impossible to imagine the modern world without many calculations, because at a minimum we are forced to count the money spent on buying groceries in the store. But there were times when there was not even the concept of “unit” in people’s minds. Where did this great science called “mathematics” come from? Euclid is the founder of this science and its founder. It was he who gave the world mathematics in the form in which we see it. “Euclidean geometry” was taken as a basis by ancient, and later by medieval scientists as a model of mathematical calculations.

Attila, King of the Huns

The great king of the Huns left a noticeable mark on history. If not for him, the Western Roman Empire could have collapsed earlier. Attila's invasion of Gaul and his meeting with the Pope left a rich mark on Catholic literature. In medieval writings, Attila began to be called the Scourge of God, and the invasion of the Huns itself was regarded as punishment for insufficient service to God. All this, one way or another, was reflected in the subsequent development of Europe.

Emperor of the steppes Genghis Khan.

As soon as the Europeans recovered from the invasions of the Huns, the threat from the nomads once again hung over Europe. A huge horde that wipes out entire cities from the face of the earth. An enemy that both German mercenaries and Japanese samurai fought at the same time. We are talking about the Mongols, led by the rulers of the Genghisid dynasty, and the founder of this dynasty is Genghis Khan.

The Genghisid Empire is the largest continental empire in the entire history of mankind. European rulers united in the face of the danger of the Mongols, and conquered peoples created their own unique culture from the influence of the conquerors. One of these peoples were the Russians. They will be freed from the power of the Horde and form a state, which, in turn, will also change history.

Discoverer Columbus

Everything in the modern world, one way or another, is connected with America. It was in America that the first colonial power appeared, in which not the indigenous population lived, but colonists. And we can talk about the US contribution to world history for a very long time. But America didn’t just appear on the map. Who discovered it for the whole world? The name of Christopher Columbus is associated with the discovery of this land for the whole world.

The genius of Leonardo Da Vinci

Mona Lisa is a painting known all over the world. Its author is Leonardo Da Vinci, a Renaissance figure, inventor, sculptor, artist, philosopher, biologist and writer, such people were called geniuses in his time. A great man with a great legacy.

Da Vinci's influence on art and science is enormous. Being the most outstanding figure of the Renaissance, he made an enormous contribution to the art of subsequent generations. Based on his inventions, new ones were invented, some of which still serve us today. His discoveries in anatomy radically changed the concept of biology, because he was one of the few who, despite the prohibition of the church, opened and examined corpses.

Reformer Martin Luther

In the 16th century, this name evoked the most contrasting emotions. Martin Luther is the founder of the Reformation, a movement against the power of the Pope. The formation of a new confession, supported by the masses, is already a major undertaking, capable of changing the world. And when this denomination is formed from another in a separatist manner, then war is not far away. Europe was overwhelmed by a wave of religious wars that lasted more than a century. The largest conflict was the Thirty Years' War, one of the bloodiest wars in history. Let us not forget that, despite the end of all wars over religion, religious differences further divided Europe. Protestantism became the state religion in some countries and even remains so in a few of them to this day.

Napoleon I Bonaparte, Emperor of France

"Through hardship to the stars". This quote describes this man perfectly. Starting his journey as an ordinary Corsican boy, Napoleon became the emperor of France and excited all the European powers, which had not seen such people for hundreds of years.

The name of the emperor-commander was known to every European. Such a person could not disappear without a trace from the pages of history. His military successes will become an example for many commanders, and his personality will be equated with God. Guided by his “guiding star,” Bonaparte changed the world the way he wanted.

Leader of the revolution Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Every citizen of Russia has ever heard about the “Great October Revolution” - the event that marked the beginning of the formation of a new power. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin created the world's first socialist state, which in the future will have a huge impact on world history.

The Great October Revolution is considered the most significant event in the whole world to this day, because it proved that the establishment of a communist state was possible. The Soviet Union, which replaced the Russian Empire, changed the world in a way that many could not even imagine.

Founder of modern physics Albert Einstein

The name of Albert Einstein is known even to those who don’t really understand anything about physics. This is understandable: his very name is a common noun. The creator of the famous theory of relativity and countless works, Albert Einstein changed the very concept of the word “physics”.

The general theory of relativity caused a stir among scientists, but it was not the only work of this scientist. All established scientific theories and opinions were literally ground into powder by just one person. Modern physics still stands on the statements of Albert Einstein and, perhaps, will stand for hundreds of years.

Adolf Gitler

The Second World War is the bloodiest conflict in the history of mankind. More than 70 million people lost their lives and even more lives were broken. Everyone knows the name of the one who started this war. Adolf Hitler is the leader of the NSDAP, the founder of the Third Reich, a man whose name is inextricably linked with the concepts of the Holocaust and the Second World War.

No matter how much everyone hated Hitler, his influence on world history is recognized and undeniable, because the results of the Second World War still echo across our world, sometimes revealing various details. To be more specific and simpler, it was because of Hitler that the UN was formed, the Cold War began, and many inventions were created that passed from the army into human life. But we shouldn’t forget about the destruction of entire nationalities just because they simply exist, we shouldn’t forget about the 70 million who gave their lives to end this terrible conflict, we shouldn’t forget about the tragedy that the whole world had to put an end to.

As you know, history is a process of human activity that forms a connection between the past, present and future. The linear model of historical development, according to which society develops from simple to more complex stages, has existed in science and philosophy for a long time. However, at present, priority is still given to the civilizational approach.

The development of the historical process is influenced by many factors. Among these factors, a person who conducts social activities plays an important role. The role of a person in history especially increases if he is directly related to power.

Plekhanov G.V. noted that history is made by people. The activity of each individual person, who takes an active life position, contributes with his work, theoretical research, etc. In addition, a certain contribution to the development of one or another sphere of social life is already a contribution to the historical process as a whole.

The French writer J. Lemaitre wrote that all people participate in the creation of history. Therefore, each of us, at least in the most insignificant share, is obliged to contribute to her beauty and not allow her to be too ugly. It is impossible not to agree with the writer’s point of view, since all our actions in one way or another affect the people who surround us. So how can a person influence the formation of society and history as a whole?

The question of personality in the historical process has worried scientists at all times, and currently remains relevant. Life does not stand still, history moves forward, human society is constantly developing, and significant personalities enter the historical arena, replacing those who remain in the past.

The problem of the role of personality in history has been dealt with by many thinkers and scientists of philosophy. Among them are G. Hegel, G.V. Plekhanov, L.N. Tolstoy, K. Marx and many others. Therefore, the ambiguity of the solution to this problem is associated with ambiguous approaches to the very essence of the historical process.

Let us note that history is driven by impulses that set in motion large masses of people, entire nations, and in each given nation, entire classes. And for this it is necessary to understand what influence these masses carry within them.

The people are the creation of their era, but the people are also the creator of their era.

The creative power of the people appears especially clearly in the actions of great historical figures. Throughout the life of mankind, we see the connection between personality and history, their influence on each other, their interaction. Moreover, the emergence of this category of personality is caused by certain historical conditions, which are prepared by the activities of the masses and historical needs.

The mass, as a special type of historical community of people, fulfills its assigned role. If the individual’s uniqueness is ignored or suppressed while achieving collective cohesion, the human collective turns into a mass. The main features of the masses are: heterogeneity, spontaneity, suggestibility, variability, which serve as manipulation by the leader. Individuals are capable of controlling the masses. The mass, in its unconscious movement towards order, elects a leader who embodies its ideals.

History teaches that no class, no social force achieves dominance unless it puts forward its own political leaders. But individual talents are not enough. It is necessary that in the course of the development of society, tasks that can be solved by one or another individual should be on the agenda.

The appearance of an outstanding personality on the historical arena is prepared by objective circumstances, the maturation of certain social needs. Such needs appear during changing periods in the development of countries and their peoples. So what characterizes an outstanding personality, especially a statesman?

In his work “Philosophy of History,” G. Hegel wrote that there is an organic connection between the necessity dominant in history and the historical activity of people. Individuals of this kind, with extraordinary insight, understand the perspective of the historical process and form their goals on the basis of what is new, which is still hidden within a given historical reality.

The question arises: would the course of history have changed in some cases if this or that person had not been present or, on the contrary, had a figure appeared at the right moment?

G.V. Plekhanov believes that the role of the individual is determined by the organization of society, which serves only as a way to prove the triumph of inexorable Marxist laws over the will of man.

Modern researchers note that personality is not a simple “cast” of society. On the contrary, society and personality actively influence each other. There are many ways to organize society, and therefore, there will be many options for the manifestation of personality. Thus, the historical role of an individual can range from the most inconspicuous to the most enormous.

A huge number of events in history have always been marked by the manifestation of activity by various individuals: brilliant or stupid, talented or mediocre; strong-willed or weak-willed, progressive or reactionary.

And as history shows, a person, having become the head of a state, army, party, or people's militia, can have different influences on the course of historical development. The process of personal advancement is determined by both the personal qualities of people and the needs of society.

Therefore, first of all, a historical figure is assessed from the point of view of how he fulfilled the tasks assigned to him by history and the people.

A striking example of such a personality is Peter I. To understand and explain the actions of an outstanding personality, it is necessary to study the very process of formation of the character of this personality. We will not talk about how the character of Peter I was formed. We will only pay attention to the following. From how Peter's character developed and what the result was, it becomes clear what impact he could have on Russia as a tsar. The methods and strategy of governing the state of Peter I were very different from the previous ones.

One of the distinctive features of Peter I, determined by his upbringing and the process of character formation, is that he intuitively felt and looked far into the future. At the same time, his main policy was that in order to best achieve the desired results, there is little influence from above; it is necessary to go to the people, improve skills and change the style of work of the management groups of society through training abroad.

Historians have long come to the conclusion that the program of Peter’s reforms matured long before the start of the reign of Peter I, that is, there were already objective prerequisites for change, and a person is able to speed up or delay the solution of a problem, give this solution special features, and use the opportunities provided with talent or incompetence.

If another “calm” sovereign had come to replace Peter I, the era of reforms in Russia would be postponed, as a result of which the country would begin to play a completely different role. Peter was a bright individual in everything, and this is what allowed him to break established traditions, customs, habits, enrich old experience with new ideas and actions, and borrow what was necessary and useful from other peoples. It was thanks to the personality of Peter that Russia has moved forward noticeably, reducing its gap with the advanced countries of Western Europe.

However, we note that a person can have different influences on the course and outcome of historical events, both positive and negative, and sometimes both.

In our opinion, in modern Russia we can single out a personality who has left his mark on its history. An example of such a person is M.S. Gorbachev. Not much time has passed to fully understand and appreciate his role in the history of modern Russia, but some conclusions can already be drawn. Having become the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee in March 1985, M.S. Gorbachev could have continued the course that was taken before him. But after analyzing the situation in the country that had developed by that time, he came to the conclusion that perestroika was an urgent need that grew out of the deep processes of development of a socialist society, and society was ripe for change, and delaying perestroika carried the threat of a serious socio-economic and political crisis.

Gorbachev M.S. were characterized by idealism and courage. At the same time, you can scold and blame him for all Russian troubles as much as you like, but the fact that his activities are selfless is obvious. He did not increase his power, but decreased it, a unique case. After all, all the great deeds of history were improvisations. Gorbacheva M.S. It is often accused that he did not have a well-thought-out plan for restructuring. It is important to note that it could not have happened, but even if it had existed, life and various factors would not have allowed this plan to come true. Moreover, Gorbachev came too late to reform the system. At that time there were too few people ready to read the state in a democratic spirit. And Gorbachev’s path is the path of introducing new content into old forms. All the grandiose destructive and creative work of Gorbachev M.S. is unthinkable without idealism and courage, in which there is an element of “beautiful soul” and naivety. And it was precisely these traits of Gorbachev, without which there would have been no perestroika, that contributed to its defeat. Definitely, Gorbachev M.S. a large personality whose strength is also her weakness. He relied on reason, hoped to realize universal human interests in his country and in the world, but he did not have the strength to replace the old power relations with new ones.

Thus, the analysis of two outstanding personalities showed how strongly a personality can influence the course of history, and how personal characteristics can radically change the course of the historical process. One cannot beg the role of personality in history, because a progressive personality accelerates the course of the historical process and directs it in the right direction. At the same time, there are many examples of the influence of personality on history, both positive and negative, precisely thanks to which our modern state took shape.

Literature:

1. Malyshev I.V. The role of the individual and the masses in history, - M., 2009. - 289 p.

2. Plekhanov G.V. Selected philosophical works, - M.: INFRA-M, 2006. - 301 p.

3. Plekhanov G.V., On the question of the role of personality in history // History of Russia. – 2009. – No. 12. – P. 25-36.

4. Fedoseev P.N. The role of the masses and the individual in history, - M., 2007. - 275 p.

5. Shaleeva V.M. Personality and its role in society // State and law. - 2011. - No. 4. - P. 10-16.

Scientific adviser:

Candidate of Historical Sciences, Ragunshtein Arseny Grigorievich.