Description A Meaningful Journey to Discover Figures from World History Among the countless people who lived throughout history in Asia (including China and Japan), the Americas, Europe, Russia, and beyond, some names have endured across time and place, earning lasting respect. What kind of lives did these remarkable individuals lead? Join them on their journeys to the pivotal moments when they had to make crucial decisions, and consider what choice you might have made in their place. The National Character Shaped by the Historical Figures Who Made History Every country has its own unique character and identity. It is truly remarkable how the influence of a single person can shape a nation's ethnic traits or social systems. By examining figures from both the East and West, readers can also compare and analyze the cultural and emotional differences between Korea and other nations. Even if we may never become world-changing figures ourselves, we hope readers will discover, through the life stories of these individuals, ways to live a more meaningful and valuable life. The Lives and Wisdom of World Figures, Seen Through Stories That Became History There is a clear difference between memorizing a chronological list of a great figure's lifetime achievements and truly understanding history. "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: A Journey Through World Historical Figures" focuses on the specific episodes and stories that sparked major social impact in their time, allowing these figures to be honored and remembered around the world to this day. This approach is designed to help children more easily access the vast sweep of human history, and to better understand and remember each figure's life and historical context. The 9th Book in the "101 Days Traveling Without a Map" World Culture and History Series Since publishing "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: A Journey Around the World" in January 2004 as the first title in this history and culture series, we have continued with "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: A Journey Through Time," "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: Exploring the Origins of English," "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: An Unconventional History," "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: A History of Wisdom," "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: A Journey Through Korean History," "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: A History of Mysteries," and "101 Days Traveling Without a Map: A Journey Through Urban History." This ninth volume in the series explores "World Historical Figures." Auguste Rodin (France): The Sculptor Who Pursued Depth Over Width In 1858, when Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) was 18 years old, his family faced financial hardship, so he took a job at an ornament shop while studying sculpture on his own in his spare time. Since he lacked the money for proper materials, he often practiced making various works out of clay instead of plaster. One day, as Rodin was shaping flowers and leaves out of clay, a fellow craftsman named Constant Simon said to him, "Rodin, all the leaves you make look flat. They don't look real. Try making the tips of the leaves jut out toward you — that will make them look like they have depth at a glance. When you sculpt, don't just think of a shape in terms of width; always think in terms of depth. Think of a flat surface as just one part of a volume. If you do that, you'll come to understand how to 'build up form.'" Simon offered this advice because he had always admired how seriously and diligently Rodin worked. Rodin didn't take offense, and instead tried doing exactly as Simon suggested. The result was a beautifully realistic leaf. Simon's words went on to greatly benefit Rodin throughout his career as a sculptor. In 1875, at the age of 35, Rodin experienced another moment of insight. Struggling to find his own unique style of expression, he traveled to Rome, Naples, Venice, and Florence in Italy in search of inspiration, where he viewed Renaissance-era works firsthand. Fortunately, he discovered his own secrets to sculpture in the works of Michelangelo and Donatello. This trip marked a turning point for Rodin, who began creating original works that broke free from conventional thinking — the first of which was the bronze statue "The Vanquished One." From then on, Rodin primarily sculpted human figures, often placing special emphasis on the hands and head in his work. Today, he is...