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Aw man, this is a tough question. I regret to say that most of my favorite historical figures existed past 1800 AD, but of course, I can suffice. Here's my list so far, and I will be sure to update if I think of more:
- Benjamin Franklin: I would want to meet Franklin not only because he's one of the people I most admire, but also because he was what you could call a "jack of all trades." He was an inventor, a politician of sorts, and a variety of other things. He took part in making the United States a free country, and his inventions have had a significant impact on society, even to this day.
- William Shakespeare: I know this is has been said a lot so far, but his literature tops that of some of the most well known writers of today, and plus, I would like to know more about his life!
- Homer: First off, let me clarify that I'm not talking about Homer Simpson! The Homer I'm referring to is the Homer who "wrote" "The Odyssey," which is a great work of literature (despite the fact that it's over 3,000 years old!) for those who haven't read it.
- Voltaire: My favorite philosopher, who was famous for his dislike for mindless optimism. He expressed this in one of his works, "Candide." In this work, the protagonist (who has the same mindless optimism that Voltaire despised) is taken through many unfortunate occurrences (some of which being very extreme) until the optimism is literally beaten out of him. However, depressing as it may sound, it's actually very funny.
- Peter the Great: What can I say, he was a pretty awesome guy!
-Beau Brummell: While he most likely had his impact on society in the early 19th Century, "the Beau" is famous for establishing Dandyism and the foundation for the modern man's suit. Brummell was born and raised in a society where men wore powder, wigs, and ridiculous "frilly" sorts of articles. Brummell established a newer, simpler (yet still elegant) way for men to dress. Brummell himself was strictly clean and organized. He would bathe himself daily (somewhat uncommon for the time), and claimed to polish his boots with champagne and take five hours to dress.
That's all I can think of for now!
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beau_brown
bestpay
I'll go for William Shakespeare. I'm sure he'd be a fun and fascinating guy, and not much is known about him and his life.
I'd shoot the breeze with him on life and love, religion and politics, the art of writing, and the art of making a buck from it.
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Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle
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She was Henry VIII's second wife and was quite the manipulator. By most accounts she was brilliant and beautiful with an ambitious family behind pulling the strings. I would love to be able and sit and talk with her about court life, her aspirations and visions for the future of England, and what she really thinks of Henry and her family.
For instance, it does seem according to most accounts that she really was in love with Henry - at least, to start. But by the end of...their marriage...Henry had dozens of mistresses, had plumped to the size of a butterball, and was gouty and smelly (from infection). Did she really love him? Or was it all about the power?
And if the "rules" of our conversation permitted, I'd love to talk about regret and how her actions led to her own death and a permanently altered England (had she never pushed Henry so hard, he likely never would've broken ties with the Vatican, he probably would've stayed married to Catherine of Aragon until her death, and likely he wouldn't have gotten so maniacally angry and tyrannical in his older years - Anne let loose the beast!).
.jpg)
http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/images/Boleyn,Anne(min).jpg
This was a tough call though, any of Henry's wives could've been runners up - especially Catherine of Aragon. I'd be a little too afraid of Henry himself. Plus he was a pompous, spoiled windbag. And the smell of a gouty leg, who could eat??
Source(s):
Absolute fascination with the Tudor dynasty and legacy!
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So if I set my way back machine to 1800 BC and before I would like to meet the Great Shun
This leader was known for modesty and virtue and his rule lasted for fifty years. He appointed Yu of Xia to manage disasters. You may also want to read the story of how he picked the next ruler. . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shun_(Chinese_leader)
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/BattleofIssus333BC-mosaic-detail1.jpg
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He Was And Is The Greatest Genius And Polymath That Ever Lived He Was All Things To All Men.
Source(s):
http://www.mos.org/leonardo/
My Personal Opinion
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After a bit of thought I decided I would like to meet Chief Seattle. I picked this figure because I have been interested in what it would be like to lose your homeland. Chief Seattle was gracious to the white man even having lost his and his peoples homeland, if these events happened today here in the United states now by a outside force all Americans would have to deal with this new change knowing we had been the insurgents at one time before. We would be very angry and not as compliant as Chief Seattle.
An excerpt from his oration at the Treaty of 1854 surrendering native lands to the insurgents, us.
-quote-
"Then in reality he will be our father and we his children. But can that ever be? Your God is not our God! Your God loves your people and hates mine! He folds his strong protecting arms lovingly about the paleface and leads him by the hand as a father leads an infant son. But, He has forsaken His Red children, if they really are His. Our God, the Great Spirit, seems also to have forsaken us."
-quote-
There are many translations of this speech and no verbatim transcript.
Reading this entire oration and trying to perceive the wisdom contained within has enlightened me and give me a new perspective on past and present events.
I wonder what this Native American would think about events of present day.
I wonder how he would feel about what has become of this land he and his people once lived upon.
Source(s):
http://www.aaanativearts.com/article331.html
http://www.suquamish.nsn.us/chief.htm
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Answered Question
M$1
June 30, 2009 04:26 PM
Which historical figure would you most like to meet and why? Let's say somebody 1800 AD and before only, i.e. truly historical
It could be:
> Genghis Khan - But be warned you might not live to tell the tale!
> King Henry VIII - But if you're an attractive woman he might want to marry you!
> ??? - Who else, well that's up to you!
> Genghis Khan - But be warned you might not live to tell the tale!
> King Henry VIII - But if you're an attractive woman he might want to marry you!
> ??? - Who else, well that's up to you!
Interesting Question?
Yes (5)
No (0)
Interesting: jeffhoard, brian san, kerryk, greenfreelancer, buddawiggi
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Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| July 01, 2009 05:32 AM |
- Benjamin Franklin: I would want to meet Franklin not only because he's one of the people I most admire, but also because he was what you could call a "jack of all trades." He was an inventor, a politician of sorts, and a variety of other things. He took part in making the United States a free country, and his inventions have had a significant impact on society, even to this day.
- William Shakespeare: I know this is has been said a lot so far, but his literature tops that of some of the most well known writers of today, and plus, I would like to know more about his life!
- Homer: First off, let me clarify that I'm not talking about Homer Simpson! The Homer I'm referring to is the Homer who "wrote" "The Odyssey," which is a great work of literature (despite the fact that it's over 3,000 years old!) for those who haven't read it.
- Voltaire: My favorite philosopher, who was famous for his dislike for mindless optimism. He expressed this in one of his works, "Candide." In this work, the protagonist (who has the same mindless optimism that Voltaire despised) is taken through many unfortunate occurrences (some of which being very extreme) until the optimism is literally beaten out of him. However, depressing as it may sound, it's actually very funny.
- Peter the Great: What can I say, he was a pretty awesome guy!
-Beau Brummell: While he most likely had his impact on society in the early 19th Century, "the Beau" is famous for establishing Dandyism and the foundation for the modern man's suit. Brummell was born and raised in a society where men wore powder, wigs, and ridiculous "frilly" sorts of articles. Brummell established a newer, simpler (yet still elegant) way for men to dress. Brummell himself was strictly clean and organized. He would bathe himself daily (somewhat uncommon for the time), and claimed to polish his boots with champagne and take five hours to dress.
That's all I can think of for now!
| Asker's Rating: |
• Top drawer answer and previously nominated for "answer of the day".
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beau_brown
July 01, 2009 05:33 PM
I also just remembered that I would want to meet Leonardo DaVinci! As a novice engineer, he would be such a fascinating person to meet.
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bestpay
July 01, 2009 05:53 PM
This comment is a classic and is a contestant in "question of the day", for more details visit: http://www.mahalo.com/answers/question-of-the-day/july-1-welcome-to-the-question-of-the-day-contest
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Other Answers (12)
June 30, 2009 05:40 PM
Did you mean before 1800 AD? Your examples suggest so. :) I'll go for William Shakespeare. I'm sure he'd be a fun and fascinating guy, and not much is known about him and his life.
I'd shoot the breeze with him on life and love, religion and politics, the art of writing, and the art of making a buck from it.
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June 30, 2009 06:30 PM
And as a slightly younger man, maybe...
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/3/9/1236638626755/Newly-Identified-portrait-001.jpg
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/mar/10/shakespeare-cobbe-portrait
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/mar/10/shakespeare-cobbe-portrait
June 30, 2009 06:33 PM
I'd like to meet Aristotle. Of the Greek philosophers, he's the one I'm most impressed with. One of his many lessons is about the difference between virtues and vices, and on doing what is appropriate in any given situation.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle
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June 30, 2009 07:13 PM
It's funny that you used Henry VIII as one of your examples. When I first read your question on the homepage, my first thought was about Anne Boleyn. She was Henry VIII's second wife and was quite the manipulator. By most accounts she was brilliant and beautiful with an ambitious family behind pulling the strings. I would love to be able and sit and talk with her about court life, her aspirations and visions for the future of England, and what she really thinks of Henry and her family.
For instance, it does seem according to most accounts that she really was in love with Henry - at least, to start. But by the end of...their marriage...Henry had dozens of mistresses, had plumped to the size of a butterball, and was gouty and smelly (from infection). Did she really love him? Or was it all about the power?
And if the "rules" of our conversation permitted, I'd love to talk about regret and how her actions led to her own death and a permanently altered England (had she never pushed Henry so hard, he likely never would've broken ties with the Vatican, he probably would've stayed married to Catherine of Aragon until her death, and likely he wouldn't have gotten so maniacally angry and tyrannical in his older years - Anne let loose the beast!).
This was a tough call though, any of Henry's wives could've been runners up - especially Catherine of Aragon. I'd be a little too afraid of Henry himself. Plus he was a pompous, spoiled windbag. And the smell of a gouty leg, who could eat??
Source(s):
Absolute fascination with the Tudor dynasty and legacy!
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June 30, 2009 07:39 PM
It is fun to answer who I would meet before 1800 AD, but I found it really fun and quite challenging to answer for 1800 BC Which would make my answer Leonardo Davinci too modern to qualify ^_^ So if I set my way back machine to 1800 BC and before I would like to meet the Great Shun
This leader was known for modesty and virtue and his rule lasted for fifty years. He appointed Yu of Xia to manage disasters. You may also want to read the story of how he picked the next ruler. . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shun_(Chinese_leader)
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July 01, 2009 11:32 AM
Yea, DaVinci was amazing he had the mind of a scientist and the soul of an artist!
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July 01, 2009 12:43 AM
Alexander the Great. I would love to go back and travel with him. Did you know that he established a city in what is now Tajikistan? This guy was amazing. Permalink | Report
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July 01, 2009 02:30 PM
Leonardo Da Vinci He Was And Is The Greatest Genius And Polymath That Ever Lived He Was All Things To All Men.
Source(s):
http://www.mos.org/leonardo/
My Personal Opinion
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July 01, 2009 03:14 PM
Cleopatra! She was the original liberated woman! Historical records state she wasn't exactly very attractive, but there was something about her, a sort of exotic sexuality, that drove men wild and she defintely had her share of men and ended up drastically changing the world in her pursuit of those men. If Julius Ceasar had not tried desperately to please Cleopatra, the Library of Alexandria would not have been destroyed. The Library of Alexandria housed thousands of books by all the great ancient philosophers and scholars, some were the only copy of such works and all was destroyed. It is believed that if that library had not been destroyed, we would be decades further advanced now than we are.
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July 01, 2009 05:22 PM
- New Source
It could be a short message, with his reputation. Or maybe he was a pussy cat really.
http://www.heritage-history.com/books/horne/soldiers/zpage059.gif
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July 01, 2009 07:11 PM
I know you asked for pre-1800 figures but can I slide with someone from just a few years later? After a bit of thought I decided I would like to meet Chief Seattle. I picked this figure because I have been interested in what it would be like to lose your homeland. Chief Seattle was gracious to the white man even having lost his and his peoples homeland, if these events happened today here in the United states now by a outside force all Americans would have to deal with this new change knowing we had been the insurgents at one time before. We would be very angry and not as compliant as Chief Seattle.
An excerpt from his oration at the Treaty of 1854 surrendering native lands to the insurgents, us.
-quote-
"Then in reality he will be our father and we his children. But can that ever be? Your God is not our God! Your God loves your people and hates mine! He folds his strong protecting arms lovingly about the paleface and leads him by the hand as a father leads an infant son. But, He has forsaken His Red children, if they really are His. Our God, the Great Spirit, seems also to have forsaken us."
-quote-
There are many translations of this speech and no verbatim transcript.
Reading this entire oration and trying to perceive the wisdom contained within has enlightened me and give me a new perspective on past and present events.
I wonder what this Native American would think about events of present day.
I wonder how he would feel about what has become of this land he and his people once lived upon.
Source(s):
http://www.aaanativearts.com/article331.html
http://www.suquamish.nsn.us/chief.htm
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July 02, 2009 07:47 PM
Anne Boylen with out a doubt. She had her faults, but who doesn't. Not many women can hold on to a powerful man for 7 years without sex. She was able to get her rules enforced even if most people hated her. It was very tragic that she had to die and leave her daughter behind because Henry the VIII wanted Jane Seymore.
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