Is history a story of great men? Ridley Scott’s new film Napoleon tells the story of one man’s rise and fall. But some think we should find stories about more ordinary people.
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Man of the hour: Joaquin Phoenix plays the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte. Glossary
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.
Great Man theory - According to the Great Man Theory, great leaders are born, not made. Leadership traits are inherent and cannot be learned.
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.