My Name is Theodore Frelinghuysen:  Reformed Minister and Awakening Voice I was born in 1691 in the Dutch Republic, into a world where the Reformed faith was deeply woven into daily life, yet often practiced more from habit than from the heart. From an early age, I was shaped by Scripture, catechism, and the traditions of the Dutch Reformed Church. As I grew in learning, I also grew in concern. I saw churches full of people who knew the words of faith but showed little eviden

My Name is Archidamus II: King of Sparta I was born into the Eurypontid royal house, trained from youth in the discipline and restraint that define our city. In Sparta, kings are not tyrants but guardians of tradition, law, and balance. From my earliest days, I learned that power is best exercised slowly, with foresight, and always with the survival of the polis in mind.   A King Formed by Caution and Experience Before war ever came, I studied the fragile balance of Greece. I

My Name is Martin Luther: A Monk Who Challenged an Empire My name is Martin Luther, and I did not set out to divide the Christian world—I set out to save my soul and tell the truth as I found it in Scripture.   A Childhood Shaped by Fear and Faith I was born in 1483 in Eisleben, in the Holy Roman Empire, to hardworking parents who wanted me to succeed. My father hoped I would become a lawyer, and I obeyed, studying law at the university. Yet fear ruled my heart—fear of God’s

My Name is Socrates: A Questioner of Truth I was born in Athens, not into wealth or political power, but into ordinary life. My father was a stonecutter, my mother a midwife, and from them I learned two great lessons: how things are shaped, and how ideas are brought into the world. I never claimed special wisdom, yet from a young age I felt compelled to ask questions about virtue, justice, courage, and what it truly meant to live well.   The Oracle and My Mission One day, a f

My Name is Major Ridge: A Cherokee Leader at the Edge of Survival I was born around 1771 in the Cherokee Nation, at a time when our world was already changing faster than our elders could have imagined. The forests, rivers, and towns of our people still stood strong, but the shadow of the United States was growing longer each year. From my earliest days, I understood that I lived between two worlds—one rooted in Cherokee tradition and one pressing in from the outside with law

My Name is Pericles: Strategos of Athens I was born into a city that believed greatness was earned, not inherited, and I spent my life proving that Athens could lead not by fear alone, but by vision, participation, and courage.   My Family and Early Formation I was born around 495 BC into a powerful Athenian family. My father, Xanthippus, was a respected general who helped defeat the Persians, and through him I learned early that leadership demanded service. From my mother’s

My Name is Tecumseh: Defender of Native Sovereignty My name is Tecumseh: defender of Native sovereignty. I was born into a world already under siege, a world where the forests still spoke our laws but foreign footsteps pressed closer each year. I did not choose resistance; resistance was chosen for me by the times in which I lived.   A Childhood Shaped by Loss I was born around 1768 in the Ohio Country, among the Shawnee people, a land rich with rivers, forests, and memories

My Name is Darius I of Persia: King of Kings, Lawgiver of an Empire My name is Darius I of Persia, whom the world would come to call “the Great.” I was not born to rule the largest empire the earth had yet known, but I became its architect. I was a soldier, a lawgiver, a builder, and a king who believed that order was the highest virtue of civilization. My reign was not merely about conquest, but about holding together a world that stretched from the Indus River to the Aegean

My Name is Cacique Guarionex: Leader of the Taíno of Hispaniola I was born into a land of rivers, forests, and mountains, where our people lived peacefully in large villages across the Cibao Valley of Hispaniola. As the son of a cacique, I was raised to understand leadership—how to settle disputes, guide planting and harvests, and honor the zemí spirits who watched over our people. Our world thrived on cooperation, shared labor, and respect for the land that sustained us. I e

My Name is Pausanias the Traveler: A Wanderer and Recorder of the Greek World From my earliest years in Asia Minor, I was gripped by a desire to understand the world beyond my doorstep. Stories of distant temples, ancient battles, and forgotten shrines filled my imagination. I was not a warrior or a statesman; my gift was observation. As soon as I was old enough, I set out on the roads of the Roman Empire, determined to see with my own eyes what others only whispered about.