Confucius
Confucius stands as perhaps the most influential philosopher in human history. While people quote his wise sayings on fortune cookies and greeting cards, the real man lived a life of struggle, rejection, and wandering. He considered himself a failure in politics and never saw his ideas implemented during his lifetime. Furthermore, he possessed a distinct physical appearance that frightened children and earned him strange nicknames. Prepare to bow to the Master of Ten Thousand Generations.
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus changed our understanding of the universe by placing the Sun, rather than the Earth, at the center of the solar system. While history honors him as the father of modern astronomy, he actually spent most of his life working as a church official, a physician, and even a military commander. Furthermore, he delayed publishing his life’s work for decades because he feared ridicule from the public, not persecution from the church. Prepare to look up at the stars with the genius of Toruń.
Mongolian Empire
Genghis Khan and his successors created the largest land empire the world has ever seen. While history often paints them as mindless barbarians, the Mongols actually established a sophisticated society with strict laws and advanced technology. For instance, they practiced religious tolerance long before Western nations did. Furthermore, they created a massive communication network that allowed messages to travel hundreds of miles in a single day. Prepare to ride across the steppe with the Lords of the Bow.