The Britannica guide to the world's most influential people

Technology has existed for as long as humankind has invented items that improve and enhance daily living. The innovators of technology profiled in this comprehensive resource have affected nearly every facet of life, from transportation and communication to science and entertainment. Their developments have built upon one another, each a stepping-stone toward even greater advances in technology. Their names range from the familiar, such as Thomas Edison, to the more obscure, such as Henrietta Swan Leavitt, but their contributions to today's world are all vital.

Presents the biographies of 100 individuals responsible for everything from vaccinations to gene therapy. Organized chronologically, the format allows readers to understand how each pioneer built on the work of his or her peers and predecessors and how concepts relate to each other. Readers will also learn about the intersection of social and medical history through the stories of women who broke into the traditionally male-dominated medical field.

Profiles a selection of one hundred inventors of significant influence and accomplishment.

Presents the lives of the painters and sculptors of the Renaissance, beginning with the Italian artists of the early period, to the later artists in western and northern Europe.

Explores the lives and accomplishments of 100 of the most influential writers of all time, including William Shakespeare, Robert Browning, and Mark Twain.

Profiles a selection of one hundred women of significant influence and accomplishment.

Profiles a selection of one hundred musicians of significant influence and accomplishment.

Profiles a selection of one hundred leaders of significant influence and accomplishment.

Profiles a selection of one hundred scientists of significant influence and accomplishment.