Leading the charge

The autumn air is filled with the sound of hooves, the banging of drums and the smell of gunfire. Napoleon, an epic biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix as the French tyrantA cruel and unrestrained ruler. , has galloped into the cinema.

French critics have questioned the film's historical accuracy. Director Ridley Scott told them to "get a life." But the film has met applause elsewhere. In a five-star review, The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw saluted "a spectacle with a great star at its centre".

Napoleon tells an incredible story. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in CorsicaAn island in the Mediterranean that has been part of France since the 18th Century. in 1769, part of an obscure Italian noble family. He became a soldier during the French RevolutionThe overthrow (and subsequent execution) of France's king and aristocratic government in 1789. The revolution became infamous and influential worldwide.. His military genius saw him rise to commander, then ConsulThe name given to the two magistrates who had supreme authority in the Roman Republic. They were elected annually., then Emperor of France. 

He defeated most of Europe in battle.¹ At home he reformed education, banking and the legal system. Many of his changes remain today.

In 1813, Napoleon was on top of the world. But then a disastrous invasion of Russia weakened his army. Four countries ganged up to topple him.² But even then he came back. He was defeated for good at the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to a tiny island in the Atlantic.³

Napoleon's life has inspired paintings, novels, films, cartoons and video games. He has given his name to streets, cities, cars, sweets and even a syndrome.⁴

Twenty years after Napoleon's death, Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle wrote: "The history of the world is but the biography of great men." Napoleon was one such figure.⁵

This is now known as Great Man theory. It quickly became popular. It remains a big type of history today. We devour books about Alexander the GreatA king of ancient Macedon who is renowned as one of the greatest military leaders in history. He conquered a vast empire stretching from Greece to modern-day Pakistan., flock to MichelangeloAn Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect and poet. He lived from 1475 to 1564. 's paintings and watch actor after actor play Winston ChurchillThe British prime minister during World War Two, and later from 1951 to 1955. .

Yet some disagree with this approach. The Victorian scientist Herbert Spencer wrote: "Before [a man] can remake his society, his society must make him." Great men are led by outside events. Napoleon would be nothing without the Revolution.

Many historians agree. The Great Men theory is sexist. It often focuses on White Europeans. And it ignores the lives and work of the vast majority of humanity, who have an equal claim to making the world what it is. History should be about normal people, not a lucky few.

Is history a story of great men?

Yes: History is about people, their actions and interactions. The actions of history's great men affected the world more than those of the faceless masses. Therefore we should focus more on them.

No: Humanity's past is far richer and more complex than the lives of a lucky handful. History today should be about uncovering those stories that have been lost, forgotten and erased.

Or... Great people remain fascinating. But we need to change our idea of what makes someone great. Above all, we should expand the category to include more women and more non-Europeans.