Here is a list of the most historically significant person alive from 3500 BC through AD 2000. Using the Pantheon.World rankings (check out their site for methodology), I ranked the “most significant” people alive at any given time and created a timeline where the championship belt, as it were, was passed from one historical figure to another. “Most significant” does not necessarily mean “best”, but rather most impactful – either during their lifetime, after their death, or both. See below the Champions of Light and the Champions of Dark.
Interestingly, since the 8th Century BCE when the Arts and Philosophy began to take off, there have been exactly 53 Champions of Expression (Art/Philosophy/Science) and 53 Champions of Institution (Military/Politics/Religion). The balance between Light and Dark persists.
PDF: Pantheon Lineal Champions
| Person | Occupation | Birth | Death | Birthplace |
| Khayu | Politician | -3500 | – | Egypt |
| Tiu | Politician | -3500 | – | Egypt |
| Neheb | Politician | -3500 | – | Egypt |
| Wazner | Politician | -3500 | – | Egypt |
| Mekh | Politician | -3500 | – | Egypt |
| Ötzi | Celebrity | -3345 | -3300 | Italy |
| Scorpion I | Politician | -3200 | – | Egypt |
| Scorpion II | Politician | -3200 | – | Egypt |
| Crocodile | Politician | -3200 | – | Egypt |
| Double Falcon | Politician | -3200 | – | Egypt |
| Iry-Hor | Politician | -3200 | – | Egypt |
| Menes | Politician | -3200 | -3100 | Egypt |
| Narmer | Politician | -3150 | -3100 | Egypt |
| Hor-Aha | Politician | -3100 | -3050 | Egypt |
| Neithhotep | Companion | -3100 | – | Egypt |
| Djer | Politician | -3050 | -3000 | Egypt |
| Djet | Politician | -3000 | -2980 | Egypt |
| Merneith | Politician | -3000 | -2950 | Egypt |
| Den | Politician | -3000 | -2930 | Egypt |
| Anedjib | Politician | -2950 | -2920 | Egypt |
| Semerkhet | Politician | -2950 | -2910 | Egypt |
| Qa’a | Politician | -2950 | -2880 | Egypt |
| Fuxi | Politician | -2900 | – | China |
| Hotepsekhemwy | Politician | -2900 | -2850 | Egypt |
| Nebra | Politician | -2850 | -2800 | Egypt |
| Nynetjer | Politician | -2800 | -2750 | Egypt |
| Senedj | Politician | -2800 | -2750 | Egypt |
| Khasekhemwy | Politician | -2750 | -2686 | Egypt |
| Djoser | Politician | -2700 | -2650 | Egypt |
| Imhotep | Architect | -2700 | -2650 | Egypt |
| Sanakht | Politician | -2675 | -2630 | Egypt |
| Huni | Politician | -2650 | -2600 | Egypt |
| Yellow Emporer | Politician | -2700 | -2600 | China |
| Sneferu | Politician | -2650 | -2580 | Egypt |
| Khufu | Politician | -2625 | -2570 | Egypt |
| Djedefre | Politician | -2600 | -2560 | Egypt |
| Khafra | Politician | -2575 | -2530 | Egypt |
| Menkaure | Politician | -2550 | -2510 | Egypt |
| Shepseskaf | Politician | -2550 | -2499 | Egypt |
| Gilgamesh | Politician | -2500 | – | Iraq |
| Userkaf | Politician | -2525 | -2475 | Egypt |
| Sahure | Politician | -2500 | -2450 | Egypt |
| Neferirkare Kakai | Nobleman | -2483 | -2425 | Egypt |
| Nyuserre Ini | Politician | -2450 | -2400 | Egypt |
| Djedkare Isesi | Politician | -2425 | -2350 | Egypt |
| Unas | Politician | -2375 | -2315 | Egypt |
| Teti | Politician | -2350 | -2290 | Egypt |
| Emperor Yao | Politician | -2350 | -2250 | China |
| Lugal-zage-si | Politician | -2325 | -2270 | Iraq |
| Sargon of Akkad | Politician | -2350 | -2270 | Iraq |
| Naram-Sin of Akkad | Politician | -2275 | -2218 | Iraq |
| Pepi II Neferkare | Politician | -2284 | -2200 | Egypt |
| Dudu of Akkad | Politician | -2225 | -2169 | Iraq |
| Gudea | Politician | -2200 | -2125 | Iraq |
| Utu-hengal | Politician | -2175 | -2125 | Iraq |
| Ur-Nammu | Politician | -2150 | -2094 | Iraq |
| Shulgi | Politician | -2125 | -2046 | Iraq |
| Yu the Great | Politician | -2123 | -2025 | China |
| Qi of Xia | Politician | -2050 | -2017 | China |
| Mentuhotep II | Politician | -2075 | -2010 | Egypt |
| Mentuhotep III | Politician | -2050 | -1998 | Egypt |
| Amenemhat I | Politician | -2025 | -1962 | Egypt |
| Senusret I | Politician | -2000 | -1919 | Egypt |
| Senusret II | Politician | -1950 | -1878 | Egypt |
| Senusret III | Politician | -1925 | -1838 | Egypt |
| Amenemhat III | Politician | -1875 | -1814 | Egypt |
| Abraham | Religious Figure | -1900 | -1800 | Iraq |
| Hammurabi | Politician | -1825 | -1750 | Iraq |
| Samsu-iluna | Politician | -1792 | -1712 | Iraq |
| Jie of Xia | Politician | -1728 | -1675 | China |
| Tang of Shang | Politician | -1700 | -1646 | China |
| Tai Jia | Politician | -1675 | -1611 | China |
| Tai Geng | Politician | -1625 | -1567 | China |
| Yong Ji | Politician | -1600 | -1538 | China |
| Labarna I | Politician | -1600 | -1525 | Turkey |
| Mursili I | Politician | -1575 | -1525 | Turkey |
| Ahmose I | Politician | -1575 | -1525 | Egypt |
| Thutmose I | Politician | -1550 | -1493 | Egypt |
| Hatshepsut | Politician | -1525 | -1458 | Egypt |
| Thutmose III | Politician | -1481 | -1425 | Egypt |
| Amenhotep II | Politician | -1450 | -1397 | Egypt |
| Amenhotep III | Politician | -1403 | -1350 | Egypt |
| Akhenaten | Politician | -1375 | -1336 | Egypt |
| Nefertiti | Companion | -1370 | -1330 | Egypt |
| Tutankhamun | Politician | -1342 | -1325 | Egypt |
| Horemheb | Politician | -1350 | -1292 | Egypt |
| Moses | Religious Figure | -1350 | -1275 | Egypt |
| Seti I | Politician | -1323 | -1279 | Egypt |
| Ramesses II | Nobleman | -1303 | -1213 | Egypt |
| Merneptah | Politician | -1225 | -1203 | Egypt |
| Ramesses III | Nobleman | -1217 | -1155 | Egypt |
| Zoroaster | Religious Figure | -1200 | -1100 | Afghanistan |
| Nebuchadnezzar I | Politician | -1150 | -1104 | Iraq |
| Tiglath-Pileser I | Politician | -1150 | -1076 | Iraq |
| King Wu of Zhou | Politician | -1100 | -1043 | China |
| Saul | Religious Figure | -1079 | -1010 | Palestine |
| David | Politician | -1025 | -970 | Palestine |
| Solomon | Religious Figure | -1011 | -931 | Israel |
| Adad-nirari II | Politician | -950 | -891 | Iraq |
| Ashurnasirpal II | Politician | -925 | -859 | Iraq |
| Shalmaneser III | Politician | -900 | -824 | Iraq |
| Dido | Politician | -839 | -759 | Tunisia |
| Tiglath-Pileser III | Politician | -775 | -727 | Iraq |
| Homer | Writer | -800 | -700 | Turkey |
| Hesiod | Writer | -800 | -700 | Turkey |
| Numa Pompilius | Politician | -753 | -673 | Italy |
| Emperor Jimmu | Politician | -700 | -585 | Japan |
| Thales of Miletus | Philosopher | -623 | -546 | Turkey |
| Cyrus the Great | Politician | -600 | -530 | Iran |
| Pythagoras | Philosopher | -570 | -495 | Greece |
| Laozi | Philosopher | -575 | -475 | China |
| Confucius | Philosopher | -551 | -479 | China |
| Gautama Buddha | Philosopher | -566 | -452 | India |
| Herodotus | Historian | -484 | -425 | Turkey |
| Socrates | Philosopher | -470 | -399 | Greece |
| Plato | Philosopher | -427 | -347 | Greece |
| Aristotle | Philosopher | -384 | -322 | Greece |
| Alexander the Great | Military | -356 | -323 | Greece |
| Euclid | Mathematician | -350 | -250 | Egypt |
| Archimedes | Mathematician | -287 | -212 | Italy |
| Qin Shi Huang | Politician | -259 | -210 | China |
| Hannibal | Politician | -247 | -183 | Tunisia |
| Cato the Elder | Writer | -234 | -149 | Italy |
| Tiberius Gracchus | Politician | -163 | -133 | Italy |
| Gaius Marius | Politician | -157 | -86 | Italy |
| Spartacus | Military | -109 | -71 | Greece |
| Cicero | Politician | -106 | -43 | Italy |
| Julius Caesar | Politician | -100 | -44 | Italy |
| Augustus | Politician | -63 | 14 | Italy |
| Mary, mother of Jesus | Religious Figure | -25 | 25 | Israel |
| Jesus | Religious Figure | -4 | 33 | Israel |
| Saint Peter | Religious Figure | -1 | 67 | Israel |
| John the Apostle | Religious Figure | 6 | 100 | Israel |
| Trajan | Politician | 53 | 117 | Spain |
| Hadrian | Politician | 76 | 138 | Spain |
| Ptolemy | Astronomer | 100 | 170 | Egypt |
| Marcus Aurelius | Politician | 121 | 180 | Italy |
| Galen | Physician | 129 | 200 | Turkey |
| Liu Bei | Politician | 161 | 223 | China |
| Zhuge Liang | Engineer | 181 | 234 | China |
| Plotinus | Philosopher | 203 | 270 | Egypt |
| Diocletian | Politician | 244 | 311 | Croatia |
| Constantine the Great | Politician | 272 | 337 | Serbia |
| Athanasius of Alexandria | Philosopher | 298 | 373 | Egypt |
| Hypatia | Mathematician | 350 | 415 | Egypt |
| Augustine of Hippo | Philosopher | 354 | 430 | Algeria |
| Attila | Politician | 406 | 453 | Hungary |
| Odoacer | Politician | 433 | 493 | Hungary |
| Clovis I | Politician | 466 | 511 | Belgium |
| Justinian I | Politician | 482 | 565 | Macedonia |
| Pope Gregory I | Religious Figure | 540 | 604 | Italy |
| Muhammad | Religious Figure | 570 | 632 | Saudi Arabia |
| Umar | Politician | 585 | 644 | Saudi Arabia |
| Ali | Religious Figure | 601 | 661 | Saudi Arabia |
| Wu Zetian | Politician | 624 | 705 | China |
| Charles Martel | Military | 688 | 741 | Belgium |
| Pepin the Short | Politician | 715 | 768 | Belgium |
| Charlemagne | Politician | 748 | 814 | Spain |
| Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi | Mathematician | 780 | 850 | Turkmenistan |
| Charles the Bald | Politician | 823 | 877 | Germany |
| Alfred the Great | Politician | 848 | 899 | United Kingdom |
| Harald Fairhair | Politician | 850 | 933 | Norway |
| Al-Farabi | Philosopher | 872 | 951 | Kazakhstan |
| Otto I | Politician | 912 | 973 | Germany |
| Erik the Red | Explorer | 950 | 1003 | Norway |
| Avicenna | Philosopher | 980 | 1037 | Uzbekistan |
| Lady Godiva | Social Activist | 990 | 1076 | United Kingdom |
| Omar Khayyam | Mathematician | 1048 | 1131 | Iran |
| Hildegard of Bingen | Religious Figure | 1098 | 1179 | Germany |
| Saladin | Politician | 1138 | 1193 | Iraq |
| Genghis Khan | Military | 1162 | 1227 | Mongolia |
| Rumi | Writer | 1207 | 1273 | Afghanistan |
| Thomas Aquinas | Philosopher | 1225 | 1274 | Italy |
| Marco Polo | Explorer | 1254 | 1324 | Italy |
| Petrarch | Writer | 1304 | 1374 | Italy |
| Timur | Military | 1336 | 1405 | Uzbekistan |
| Jan Hus | Social Activist | 1369 | 1415 | Czech Republic |
| Johannes Gutenberg | Inventor | 1394 | 1468 | Germany |
| Vlad the Impaler | Politician | 1431 | 1476 | Romania |
| Christopher Columbus | Explorer | 1451 | 1506 | Italy |
| Leonardo da Vinci | Inventor | 1452 | 1519 | Italy |
| Nicolaus Copernicus | Astronomer | 1473 | 1543 | Poland |
| Martin Luther | Religious Figure | 1483 | 1546 | Germany |
| Michelangelo | Painter | 1475 | 1564 | Italy |
| Elizabeth I of England | Politician | 1533 | 1603 | United Kingdom |
| William Shakespeare | Writer | 1564 | 1616 | United Kingdom |
| Galileo Galilei | Astronomer | 1564 | 1642 | Italy |
| René Descartes | Philosopher | 1596 | 1650 | France |
| Rembrandt | Painter | 1606 | 1669 | Netherlands |
| Louis XIV of France | Politician | 1638 | 1715 | France |
| Isaac Newton | Physicist | 1643 | 1726 | United Kingdom |
| Johann Sebastian Bach | Composer | 1685 | 1750 | Germany |
| Adam Smith | Economist | 1723 | 1790 | United Kingdom |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Composer | 1756 | 1791 | Austria |
| Thomas Jefferson | Politician | 1743 | 1826 | United States |
| Napoleon | Politician | 1769 | 1821 | France |
| Ludwig van Beethoven | Composer | 1770 | 1827 | Germany |
| Carl Friedrich Gauss | Mathematician | 1777 | 1855 | Germany |
| Charles Darwin | Biologist | 1809 | 1882 | United Kingdom |
| Karl Marx | Economist | 1818 | 1883 | Germany |
| Thomas Edison | Inventor | 1847 | 1931 | United States |
| Vladimir Lenin | Politician | 1870 | 1924 | Russia |
| Albert Einstein | Physicist | 1879 | 1955 | Germany |
| Adolf Hitler | Politician | 1889 | 1945 | Austria |
| Mao Zedong | Politician | 1893 | 1976 | China |
| Nelson Mandela | Social Activist | 1918 | 2013 | South Africa |
| Stephen Hawking | Physicist | 1942 | 2018 | United Kingdom |
