Claim profile
1–99

The 1st century

Whose working lives fell in the 1st century. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1st century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇮🇹 Italy🇮🇱 Israel🇹🇷 Turkey🇪🇸 Spain🇩🇪 Germany🇫🇷 France🇪🇬 Egypt🇨🇳 China🇰🇷 South Korea🇺🇸 United States
FieldAllPoliticiansHistorical FiguresReligious FiguresWritersAcademicsDoctorsScientistsModelsBusiness ProfessionalsArchitects
  1. 1JesusJesus5 BC–30 · Religious Figures22 decades
  2. 2Paul the ApostlePaul the Apostle5–66 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers18 decades
  3. 3Saint PeterSaint Peter1 BC–65 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures22 decades
  4. 4NeroNero37–68 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
  5. 5Mary, mother of JesusMary, mother of Jesus18 BC–48 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  6. 6Seneca the YoungerSeneca the Younger4 BC–65 · Academics2 decades
  7. 7CaligulaCaligula12–41 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  8. 8John the BaptistJohn the Baptist6 BC–30 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures22 decades
  9. 9Mary MagdaleneMary Magdalenedied 100 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Academics22 decades
  10. 10PlutarchPlutarch40–120 · Academics22 decades
  11. 11TrajanTrajan53–117 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  12. 12ClaudiusClaudius10 BC–54 · Politiciansnot measured—
  13. 13VespasianVespasian9–79 · Politicians22 decades
  14. 14EpictetusEpictetus50–138 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics22 decades
  15. 15TitusTitus39–81 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politiciansnot measured—
  16. 16Pliny the ElderPliny the Elder20–79 · Writers22 decades
  17. 17Pontius PilatePontius Pilateborn 12 BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  18. 18TacitusTacitus55–120 · Writersnot measured—
  19. 19Matthew the ApostleMatthew the Apostle10–74 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures11 decades
  20. 20DomitianDomitian51–96 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  21. 21James, son of ZebedeeJames, son of Zebedee1–44 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  22. 22Thomas the ApostleThomas the Apostle1–72 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures22 decades
  23. 23Mark the EvangelistMark the Evangelist12–68 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures14 decades
  24. 24ArminiusArminius17 BC–21 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  25. 25JosephusJosephus37–100 · Writers21 decades
  26. 26Pliny the YoungerPliny the Younger61–113 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  27. 27Luke the EvangelistLuke the Evangelistdied 84 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Doctors13 decades
  28. 28Jude the ApostleJude the Apostle10–62 · Religious Figures0 decades
  29. 29JuvenalJuvenal55–200 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
  30. 30GalbaGalba3 BC–69 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  31. 31Pope LinusPope Linus10–79 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  32. 32BoudicaBoudica30–61 · Models3 decades
  33. 33NervaNerva30–98 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  34. 34VitelliusVitellius15–69 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  35. 35OthoOtho32–69 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  36. 36Agrippina the YoungerAgrippina the Younger15–59 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians0 decades
  37. 37MessalinaMessalina20–48 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politiciansnot measured—
  38. 38MartialMartial40–104 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writersnot measured—
  39. 39Saint StephenSaint Stephen1–36 · Religious Figures7 decades
  40. 40GermanicusGermanicus15 BC–19 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  41. 41BarnabasBarnabas1–61 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  42. 42SalomeSalome14–62 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  43. 43Herod AntipasHerod Antipasborn 20 BC · 🇮🇱 Israel · Politicians22 decades
  44. 44Hero of AlexandriaHero of Alexandria10–75 · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Academics19 decades
  45. 45Cai LunCai Lun48–121 · 🇨🇳 China · Scientists6 decades
  46. 46PetroniusPetronius27–66 · Writersnot measured—
  47. 47PhiloPhilo15 BC–50 · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Academicsnot measured—
  48. 48historical Jesushistorical Jesusdied 30 · 🇮🇱 Israel16 decades
  49. 49Pope AnacletusPope Anacletus25–90 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  50. 50Ignatius of AntiochIgnatius of Antioch35–108 · Academics18 decades
  51. 51Saint VeronicaSaint Veronica1–1 · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures0 decades
  52. 52QuintilianQuintilian35–96 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Educators22 decades
  53. 53John the EvangelistJohn the Evangelist10–98 · 🇮🇱 Israel22 decades
  54. 54PhaedrusPhaedrus20 BC–50 · Writers22 decades
  55. 55LucanLucan39–65 · Writers22 decades
  56. 56Poppaea SabinaPoppaea Sabina30–65 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0 decades
  57. 57Pedanius DioscoridesPedanius Dioscorides40–90 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Doctors0 decades
  58. 58Apollonius of TyanaApollonius of Tyana15–100 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics22 decades
  59. 59Saint TimothySaint Timothy17–97 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Religious Figures0 decades
  60. 60Agrippina the ElderAgrippina the Elder14 BC–33 · Politicians0 decades
  61. 61Herod AgrippaHerod Agrippa10 BC–4422 decades
  62. 62Pope Sixtus IPope Sixtus I42–126 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  63. 63Simon MagusSimon Magus50–65 · Religious Figures22 decades
  64. 64Penitent thiefPenitent thiefdied 33 · Religious Figures0 decades
  65. 65Simon bar KokhbaSimon bar Kokhba50–135 · Activists0 decades
  66. 66Rabbi AkivaRabbi Akiva50–135 · Academics5 decades
  67. 67ZacchaeusZacchaeus50–100 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  68. 68Gaius CaesarGaius Caesar20 BC–4 · Politicians9 decades
  69. 69BritannicusBritannicus41–55 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  70. 70SejanusSejanus20 BC–31 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  71. 71Gnaeus Julius AgricolaGnaeus Julius Agricola40–93 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  72. 72Aulus Cornelius CelsusAulus Cornelius Celsus25 BC–50 · Doctors0 decades
  73. 73Marcus Velleius PaterculusMarcus Velleius Paterculus19 BC–31 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0 decades
  74. 74BereniceBerenice28–80 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  75. 75GMGaius Musonius Rufus25–95 · Academics0 decades
  76. 76ColumellaColumella4–70 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  77. 77Claudia OctaviaClaudia Octavia40–62 · 🇮🇹 Italy0 decades
  78. 78StatiusStatius45–96 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
  79. 79Saint TitusSaint Titus13–107 · Religious Figures0 decades
  80. 80Apollodorus of DamascusApollodorus of Damascus50–120 · Architects0 decades
  81. 81Zhang DaolingZhang Daoling34–156 · Academicsnot measured—
  82. 82John of PatmosJohn of Patmos50–100 · 🇮🇱 Israel3 decades
  83. 83Papias of HierapolisPapias of Hierapolis60–150 · Religious Figures0 decades
  84. 84Herod Agrippa IIHerod Agrippa II27–100 · Politicians2 decades
  85. 85Marcus Gavius ApiciusMarcus Gavius Apicius25 BC–37 · Business Professionals0 decades
  86. 86Pontius Pilate's wifePontius Pilate's wife6–810 decades
  87. 87Ptolemy of MauretaniaPtolemy of Mauretania9 BC–40 · Politicians0 decades
  88. 88Herod ArchelausHerod Archelaus23 BC–18 · Models16 decades
  89. 89Julia DrusillaJulia Drusilla16–38 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  90. 90Lucius CaesarLucius Caesar17 BC–2 · Politicians15 decades
  91. 91FrontinusFrontinus30–103 · Scientists22 decades
  92. 92Drusus Julius CaesarDrusus Julius Caesar13 BC–23 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0 decades
  93. 93Dio ChrysostomDio Chrysostom40–120 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers22 decades
  94. 94Pomponius MelaPomponius Mela15–100 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  95. 95Agrippa PostumusAgrippa Postumus12 BC–14 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0 decades
  96. 96SSporus49–69not measured—
  97. 97CCCassius Chaerea12 BC–41 · Politicians0 decades
  98. 98OnesimusOnesimus1–68 · 🇹🇷 Turkey22 decades
  99. 99Gnaeus Domitius CorbuloGnaeus Domitius Corbulo7–67 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0 decades
  100. 100Milonia CaesoniaMilonia Caesonia24–41 · Historical Figures0 decades

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.