Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch Baroque period painter, born in Delft. He liked calm, relaxed scenes, using very expensive pigments. Vermeer was primarily earning his living as an art dealer, so he worked slowly and with great care on his paintings. His meticulous way of working may be one of the reasons why he produced relatively few paintings compared to other artists of that period. In fact, only 36 of his paintings have survived until today. Some of his most iconic artworks are “The Girl with a Pearl Earring”, “The Milkmaid”, and “The Art of Painting”. In these paintings, a figure, mostly a woman, is shown doing everyday things, painted in a very precise way. Vermeer is considered as one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age.

Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch painter, and one of the greatest of the Post-Impressionists. He only started painting at the age of 27, after failing in many other careers such as art dealing and school teaching. During his 10 years as an artist, he created about 2,100 artworks, from which 860 are oil paintings. Unfortunately, Vincent fought with depression throughout his life and he lived in poverty, as he only sold one painting during his lifetime (“Red Vineyard at Arles”). Eventually, he committed suicide at the age of 37. “Starry Night” and his self-portrait are among the most popular works of Van Gogh. Today, he is considered one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history.

Vasco Da Gama was a Portuguese explorer. In 1497, he led an expedition equipped by the Portuguese government, in order to find a maritime route to the East. He reached the Indian coast after sailing far out in the Atlantic Ocean and rounding the Cape of Good Hope. That journey was the first maritime route from Europe to Asia. After Da Gama returned to Portugal, he was dispatched by the King to secure a trading post in India, which he successfully established in 1502. Once back, he was granted many privileges and advised the King on Indian matters. After twenty years, he returned to India for his nomination as Portuguese viceroy but fell ill with malaria and died.

According to the legends, Genghis Khan was born with a clot of blood in his hand, an ominous omen for glory. He is considered as one of the most important conquerors of all time and acquired the title Genghis Khan, which means “Universal Ruler” after unifying the Mongol tribes. Even though he had a fearsome reputation, he introduced writing to the Mongols, promoted trade, created their first law code and allowed all religions to be practiced freely in the whole Mongol world. He ruled from 1206 until his death in 1227 and built the foundations of an empire which, under his successors, ultimately controlled one-fifth of the globe.

Sumo (“striking one another”) is a form of full-contact wrestling where a wrestler (rikishi) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (dohyō) or into touching the ground with any body part, other than the soles of his feet. Originated from Japan, this martial art form is practiced professionally and is the country’s national sport. In Sumo, many ancient traditions have been preserved, including ritual elements, such as the use of salt purification. Sumo wrestlers wear a traditional loincloth called a mawashi and are required to live in sumo training stables (heya), where all aspects of their daily lives (dress code, meals) are dictated by strict tradition. The highest rank in sumo is Yokozuna, which literally means "horizontal rope" and comes from the most visible symbol of their rank, the rope, worn around the waist.

Queen Amina (also known as Queen Aminatu) was the eldest daughter of Queen Bakwa Turunku, founder of the Zazzau Kingdom in Nigeria. After the death of her parents, Amina’s brother, Karami, became king. At that time, Amina already had the reputation of a fierce warrior woman, well known for her great military skills. Following the death of her brother in 1576, she ascended the throne as queen. During her reign, the kingdom expanded into new territories and controlled major trading routes around the Saharan Region, generating significant wealth. Today, she represents the strength and spirit of womanhood, and is fondly known as “a woman as capable as a man.” In the city of Lagos, a statue of Amina, proudly brandishing her sword on a horse, has been erected to immortalize the legendary African queen.

The Empire of Ghana, also known as Ghana, Ghanata or Wagadou, was a West African empire founded by the Soninke tribe. Kaya Magan Cissé or Kaya Maghan (meaning “ruler of gold”) was a legendary Soninke king and founder of the Cissé Tounkara dynasty, which dominated the Empire from the 8th century CE. The capital city, Kumbi, strategically located at the intersection of major trade routes, was a vital hub for goods' exchange throughout North Africa. The Empire grew rich from the trans-Saharan trade in gold, ivory, and salt, eventually turning into a realm of legendary wealth. Known as the “Land of Gold,” Ghana was said to possess sophisticated methods of administration and taxation and control over the well-concealed gold mines. 

Ferdinand Magellan was born in Sabrosa, Portugal. He received an excellent education and in 1519, he embarked on his most famous mission, with a fleet of 5 ships carrying about 270 men, in order to search for the East Indies. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, he found a passage through South America, now known as the “Straits of Magellan”. The ocean “Pacific” was named by him, as it was very calm & “peaceful” when he entered it. His expedition became the first one from Europe, which crossed the Pacific Ocean and circumnavigated the world, confirming the revolutionary idea that the world was round and not flat. Magellan died in 1521, in the Philippines, after a fight with islanders. Eventually, his expedition was completed in 1522 by his second-in-command, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, having covered ~42.000 miles in total!

Mansa Musa was the 9th Mansa (“king”) of the Mali Empire. During his reign (from 1312 to 1337 AD), the Mali Empire reached its territorial peak; this period is broadly regarded as the zenith of Mali's power and prestige. Musa was not only known for his enormous wealth, but also for his generosity, sense of justice and intelligence. His fortune was mostly built from controlling the trade of salt, copper and gold in the wider region. Mansa Musa himself further promoted the appearance of having vast, inexhaustible wealth by spreading rumours that “gold grew like a plant” in his kingdom. According to the legends, he was the wealthiest person in history, but the extent of his actual wealth remains unknown. 

A ninja (“one who is invisible”) or shinobi (“one who sneaks”) was a covert agent, mercenary, or guerrilla warfare expert, in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included siege and infiltration, ambush, espionage, deception, reconnaissance and body guarding. They had great fighting skills in martial arts, were experts in disguise and used a large variety of tools and weaponry. Ninja became mostly known as specially trained warriors, spies, and mercenaries during the Sengoku period (15th-c.). Following the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate  (17th-c.), the ninja faded into obscurity. Soon, they had become a topic of imagination and mystery. Ninja figured prominently in legends and folklore, where they were associated with legendary abilities such as magical means of camouflage, walking on water, invisibility and control over natural elements.

The term Samurai was originally used to denote the aristocratic warriors (bushi) in Japan and it is roughly translated to “those who serve”. Samurai led their lives according to the ethic code of “bushido” (the way of the warrior), promoting values like loyalty, self-discipline, respect and bravery. They had high prestige, special privileges and were the well-paid retainers of the daimyo, the great feudal landholders. They used a wide range of weapons, but their main symbol was the iconic sword. During the Edo period (1603 – 1868) peace prevailed, so the importance of martial skills declined. As modern military practices emerged, the samurai gradually became obsolete and replaced by “low cost” soldiers. While the traditional samurai class no longer exists, the samurai spirit and code of honor are still a part of Japanese culture.

Shaka kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka (“power”) Zulu, was the son of the Zulu King  kaJama. He spent his childhood in his mother's settlements, where he was initiated into an ibutho lempi (fighting unit), serving as a warrior. He became king of the Zulu Kingdom in 1816. Shaka was an ambitious and influential monarch who defined, united, and expanded the Zulu Kingdom by transforming his clan's military from a largely ceremonial force into a powerful army. He is the founder of the Zulu empire in South Africa. In 1828, he was assassinated by his two half-brothers Dingane and Mhlangana. The Shaka Memorial is a provincial heritage site in Stanger, in the KwaZulu-Natal province and it marks the resting place of King Shaka. Until today, he remains a symbol of national pride, power, and independence.

Sigmund Freud was a Czech neurologist who revolutionized how we think and treat mental health conditions. He became famous for inventing and developing the technique of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for evaluating and treating pathologies, through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Freud's main theory suggests that human behavior is influenced by unconscious memories, thoughts, and urges. This theory also proposes that the psyche comprises three aspects: the id, ego, and superego. The id is entirely unconscious, while the ego operates in the conscious mind. He is considered among the most influential doctors of the 20th century, as he changed the way society views mental illness.

Confucius was born in Shandong Province, China. He was a very influential philosopher, political figure and teacher. He is very well known for “Confucianism”, which includes his views on politics, education and ethics, shared with his followers in the 5th and 6th centuries BC. It provided people with rules for thoughts and life, which focus on respect for elders, worship for ancestors, self-discipline, love for humanity and conformity to rituals. At the time of his death, he didn’t consider himself a great teacher, but his philosophy deeply influenced China and became a massive part of the educational system. The golden rule of Confucianism is: “Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.”

Sir William Wallace was born in 1270 in Scotland, United Kingdom. He was a Scottish knight and the leader of the resistance forces during the First War of Scottish Independence. William started his attacks in 1297, right after Edward I, the King of England, declared himself ruler of Scotland. After years of resistance, he was captured by the English near Glasgow in August 1305 and was handed over to King Edward. Convicted for high treason and crimes against the King, William Wallace was eventually executed. Even nowadays, he is considered to be an iconic figure, one of Scotland’s greatest national heroes and a massive inspiration to people worldwide, a symbol of resistance and freedom.