3) Charles Martel
Charles was a Frankish military and political leader who lived between 688 and 741. Why I believe he is important to Modern European History is he led the Franks to a decisive victory over the Moors, halting their westward expansion. If Charles had not stopped the Moors most of Europe would now be Muslim instead of Christian.
4) Adolf Hitler
Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party. Why I believe he is important to Modern European History is due to his anti-Semitic views, his decision to invade Poland, and his decision to establish a totalitarian government he caused World War 2. This war caused Germany to really lose a lot of power and territory, and the Holocaust, as a result of Hitler, is now the worst attempted genocide in history, which really has decimated the population of Jews in Europe.
5) Napoleon I of France
Napoleon was the military and political leader of France from August 15, 1769 – May 5, 1821 whose actions shaped European politics in the early 19th century. Why I believe he is important to Modern European History is he established the Napoleonic Code, which laid the foundations for most of Western Europe’s political regimes. The code granted privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and stated that government jobs had to go the most qualified.
6) Maxamilien Robespierre
Robespierre was one of the most well-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution. His reign in France was known as the Reign of terror, due to his “secret police” arresting and killing any traitors or threats to his reign. Why I believe he is important to Modern European History is after his brutal reign he left most of the French people desperate for a strong monarch to take control and stabilize the country. This led to Napoleon becoming dictator and then his Napoleonic Code.
7) Issac Newton
Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and natural philosopher whom is perceived as one of the most influential men in history. Why I believe he is important to Modern European History is he came up with the laws of universal gravitation, and the three laws of motion. He showed that laws of motion adhere both to objects on Earth as to planets. Then his connected his laws to Kepler’s laws as well to show they were consistent. This ended any last disputes on heliocentrism proving it valid. His laws changed science and people’s views of it.
8) Martin Luther
Luther was a priest and a theology professor. Angered that people were buying indulgences to”buy their way out of sins” he posted the ninety-five thesis as a response. Why I believe he is important to Modern European History is he created Lutheranism a whole other branch other than Catholic Christianity and he launched the Protestant reformation, changing the course of history in Christianity, and leading to a lot of bloodshed and fighting between the two sects of Christianity.
9) Pope Urban II
Urban was Pope from March 12, 1088 to July 29, 1099. He is most known for starting the First Crusade and setting up the modern day Roman Curia, in the manner of a royal court, to help run the Church. Why I believe he is important to Modern European History is he started the First Crusade (one of the most controversial moves in history), which led to a lot of bloodshed and deaths on both sides of the battlefield. Now all it has done is have left the Muslims mad for losing Jerusalem, and continued violence and hatred between the Muslims and the Jews, and the Muslims the Christians, to this day.
10) Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth was the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. She ruled from November 17, 1558 to March 24, 1603. Why I believe he is important to Modern European History is she supported the move to make and English Protestant Church of which, she became the Supreme Governor; this was called the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. This was important because it became the Church of England, the one still present today. Her drastic move to support a Protestant church in England actually, was a good because the Church was successful, and is still present today.
