<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>

The air is filled with the banging of drums and the smell of gunfire. Napoleon, a film starring Joaquin Phoenix as the French leader, is in cinemas now.

French reviewers have asked how realistic the film really is. DirectorA person who is in charge of something, for example running a company or making a film. Ridley Scott told them to "get a life". But outside France many love the film.

It tells an incredible story. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769. 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. and Emperor of FranceThe title of the monarch and supreme ruler of the First and the Second French Empires..

It took four countries working together to beat him. But even then he came back. He was defeated for good at the Battle of Waterloo.

Napoleon's life has inspired paintings, books, films, cartoons and video games.

Twenty years after Napoleon's death, Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle wrote: "The history of the world is but the biography of great men."

This is now known as Great Man theory. We read 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., look at 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 idea.

The Great Men theory is sexistShowing prejudice or discriminating against women and girls. . It only focuses on men and White Europeans. And it ignores the lives and work of ordinary people. History should be about everyone, not a lucky few.

Is history a story of great men?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more </h2>

Yes! History is about people and their actions. The actions of great men did more to change the world than anyone else.

No! By focusing on great men, we are ignoring what the past was really like for most people - people who were not men, not White Europeans and not rich. History should be about their stories too.

Director - A person who is in charge of something, for example running a company or making a film.

French Revolution - The overthrow (and subsequent execution) of France's king and aristocratic government in 1789. The revolution became infamous and influential worldwide.

Emperor of France - The title of the monarch and supreme ruler of the First and the Second French Empires.

Alexander the Great - A 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.

Michelangelo - An Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect and poet. He lived from 1475 to 1564.

Winston Churchill - The British prime minister during World War Two, and later from 1951 to 1955.

Sexist - Showing prejudice or discriminating against women and girls.