ITT: the most powerful single figure in history. Not just due to chance, but because of deliberate action and capabilities.
Make your case.
hard mode: no f*l*p*n*s
Genghis Khan easy.
>born into nothing
>don't even have a country
>create country
>conquer large parts of the world with country
>despite being illiterate, create civil service, general staff, and intelligence service that spread the empire even further after you die
>your empire becomes the largest continuous polity in human history
No historical figure even comes close in terms of rising from obscurity to greatness.
>>1414584
Wasn't it just the novel fighting methods of the mongols that gave them such a huge advantage? That seems like chance to me.
>>1414571
Jesus Christ. The "case" being the second word of my post.
it's still the most recent president of the united states, no matter who that is as time goes on. the technology, military, global alliances and reliances, and overall security apparatus at the discretion and direction of the US president = unmatched power, in all areas, anywhere else in history. combine that with the stature and support of everyting american society has to offer - scientific accomplishment, space exploration, academia, and entertainment, and it's a lock. plus with the US having as seedy and cutthroat a political system as imperial rome, the accomplishment of rising the ranks to eventually becoming president of the country is beyond the reckoning of most people. genghis khan couldn't even get a fuckin' twinkie if he wanted lel
>>1414613
Novel fighting methods AND rape, anon.
>>1414663
But the president isn't supposed to be that powerful. It's the entire point of our political system.
You're literally shitting on the Constitution by portraying the President as some unmatched warlord.
>>1414702
you're reading things in my post that weren't there. the US president, as head of the executive brand, and head of state, of the USA, within the legal confines of the US constitution, is still the most powerful person in history. i guess in terms of how many bearded women he has in his harem the award would go to some sultan. but no matter how you weigh it, in terms of power, it's gotta be. either that or steven spielberg.
Trajan
>>1414584
*cough*
Martin Luther king
>>1414733
man, I bet he could, and did, fuck every dude he wanted
>>1414571
Probably Alexander the great. Though his empire was short lived it served to lay the groundwork of eurasian trade and thus the modern world. He brought some of the greatest powers in the world to their knees and his battlefield tactics are studied to this day. There is a good reason every conqueror compared themselves to him.
>>1414571
Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada
>>1414613
The thing with steppe nomads is that they're a bitch to unify.
It was harder for Genghis to conquer Mongolia than China.
>>1414733
Didn't exactly "start from the bottom" though.
>>1414910
So that makes other steppe nomad supreme leaders pretty based too. Like Modu Chanyu, Attila etc
>>1414733
Being born into a patrician family, and having Julius Caesar as an uncle isn't really obscure.
Literally Stalin at his peak.
One of the largest nations (or Empire depending on who you asked) in history. Modern and industrialized. Most powerful land Army in the world at his death. Complete dictatorial control of his territory to the point where he could have close popular associates killed because he didn't trust them. Wrote much of the book on much of his own new political revolutionary culture and won a civil war to make it stick so he didn't even have to live up to tradition like the kings of old. All immediate neighbors spent or weaker. Basically he was repeatedly suffered attempts to destroy him and always came back stronger. The USSR map from the revolution to post WWII is hilarious.
And he started out a poor cobbler's son on the ass end of an empire as an ethnic minority. He wasn't selected because of outstanding talent or promise either, he was just constantly underestimated, a brilliant opportunist, and a viciously hard worker. If he was the same person hundreds of years ago where contemporary controversy wouldn't touch him he would be regarded as Alexander the Great level.
>>1414903
Kneel.
Abraham
>>1414733
>genghis "rags to riches" khan
>julius "silver spoon" caesar
you what?
>>1414980
Are you honestly retarded. Julius was in so much debt that he had to run from his creditors. Having an uncle who was in so much debt doesn't equal Silver Spoon
>>1414956
>He wasn't selected because of outstanding talent or promise either, he was just constantly underestimated, a brilliant opportunist, and a viciously hard worker. If he was the same person hundreds of years ago where contemporary controversy wouldn't touch him he would be regarded as Alexander the Great level.
fucking based. almost motivating
>>1414988
Do you just think that rich people don't have debts?
>>1415013
By having millions in debt Julius was unable to assist in Octavian's childhood. So saying Julius carried him is bullshit
>>1414899
So western centric. Also he defeated one great power with his fathers amazing army. And his empire made Genghis's look long lasting.
>>1415026
No it isnt bullshit, just being part of a patrician family alone debts or no debts puts you ahead of really every non patrician family. Even if you were say a rich merchant pleb you were still never an equal or part of the actual power brokering.
>>1415214
>Unification of Mongol tribes: 1206
>Fall of Mughals: 1858
IMO his political legacy lived pretty long for a warlord
>>1415218
"He was born Gaius Octavius into an old and wealthy equestrian branch of the plebeian Octavii family" PLEBEIAN
>>1416922
and then summarily adopted as the heir to Julius's line. in what world does that not carry benefits? i dont care if the benefits came after his 'childhood'
>>1417307
HE NEEDS TO CHECK HIS PATRICIAN PRIVILEGE
>>1414663
>>1414702
The constitution is an illegal document. Lysander Spooner proved it in court. No american is bound to it.
>>1414980
>julius
>>1415218
Near the end of the Republic the distinction between pleb and patrician was minuscule. Besides, Augustus was born into a pleb family anyway.
>>1414980
That's Augustus
>>1416922
>wealth equestrian branch
>plebeian
>>1414571
>no mention of the ultimate meritocrat
>>1414584
>>born into nothing
bullshit
>Yesugei
>"was a major chief of the Khamag Mongol confederation and the father of Temüjin, later known as Genghis Khan"
>>1415214
John Green detected
Is there a /his/ wiki or resource page of recommended reading?
