Few ideas get the blood flowing more than that of revolution. Revolution means change, and when change is desperately needed, a revolution can empower us to do more, be more, achieve more. Through revolution, we can overcome adversity and stagnation and rise up to fulfill our potential. And there’s nothing to incite a revolution like a revolutionary man or woman who takes a stand against the established order.

Revolutions don’t just happen in politics or war. We have seen revolutions in science, engineering, art, and all other aspects of culture. Let’s take a look at 10 famous revolutionaries and their contributions to human history. These revolutionaries came from many walks of life, and each changed the world in a drastic, defining way.

10. Henry Ford

9. Galileo Galilei

8. Isaac Newton

7. T.E. Lawrence

6. Adolf Hitler

5. Malcolm X

4. Eva Peron

3. George Washington

2. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. Che Guevara

What can we learn from this list? Revolutions can take on many different forms. They can be positive or negative, and can transform a society for better or worse, often with ramifications for the entire planet. A revolution may be political, social, scientific, religious, or technological, but no revolution ever takes place in a vacuum. These actions of these men and women have all had lasting effects felt around the world.