These worksheets focus on people that historians agree were some of the greatest leaders across the globe of all time. We focus on people that lead their people to what they perceived as the greatest good at their time. For some this was conquering others and then for others it was creating a peaceful and civil society. These world leaders worksheets look at key figures and world leaders throughout history that were pretty much one of kind. They might have been the first to achieve something or be the first of their descent to help lead their people or empire into a new era. As we look through most of the captured and recorded history of the world it becomes pretty obvious that most civilizations eventually come to end. The leaders of these empires and reigns ran into something, someone, ideals, or disease they just could not overcome. These worksheets will explore a wide range of leadership throughout the passage of the world. Each world leader will have their life summed up in a reading passage complete with a graphic organizer to help students take notes of the key points. We follow up the reading with a series of multiple choice and short answer questions.
Print Great World Leaders Worksheets
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Queen Elizabeth I Reading Worksheet
She was only the third queen of England, to rule in her own right, and the previous two female rulers had proven to be quite disastrous. A nation ruled by a queen is called a monarchy. Elizabeth became quickly revered, and her true love for her people was well known for her leadership.
Queen Elizabeth I Graphic Organizer
This is perfect if you were setting up to write a biography on her.
Queen Elizabeth I Multiple Choice
Queen Elizabeth was what age when she became queen? One of the few people Queen Elizabeth I sentenced to death was whom?
Queen Elizabeth Short Answer
How did Queen Elizabeth I use her non-married status to the nation's benefit?
Julius Caesar Reading Worksheet
In these times, a Roman nobleman found distinction by running for political office, and Caesar did just that. He was appointed to an ancient priesthood, and married Cornelia, in 84 BC.
Julius Caesar Graphic Organizer
When his first wife died, he married a woman named Pompeia. His second marriage ended in divorce, when she was accused of being unfaithful.
Julius Caesar- Short Answer
At the time, was it normal for a leader to rise through the ranks of both military and politics?
Queen Isabella I Reading Worksheet
Queen Isabella I is considered one of the most important royal leaders in history! Born in 1451, Isabella was the queen of Castile and Leon, a medieval kingdom located on what was called the Iberian Peninsula.
Queen Isabella Graphic Organizer
Queen Isabella I is a very important character in history. One of her most important feats was sponsoring the travels of Christopher Columbus, whose voyages lead to the discovery of America! She rejected his request three times before granting him her approval.
Queen Isabella Multiple Choice
What best describes Queen Isabella I's mental state towards the end of her life?
Queen Isabella Short Answer
Who named Queen Isabella and her husband the Catholic Monarchs of Spain? During the Spanish Inquisition, what happened to the Jewish and Muslim people living in the area?
Mohandas Gandhi Reading Worksheet
At age 12, Ghandi entered into an arranged marriage, and he went on to have four sons with his wife. He went to London, where he studied law. He graduated in 1891 and went to practice law in South Africa.
Mohandas Gandhi Graphic Organizer
After World War I, Ghandi and his family returned to India. Many of his countrymen saw his vision, and joined him in non-violent protests. H
Ghandi Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes Mohandas Ghandi's feelings towards violence? How this translate to his leadership style?
Ghandi Short Answer
. Read the passage about what Albert Einstein had to say about his friend Ghandi. What do you think he meant?
Mao Zedong Reading Worksheet
Mao Zedong was a major political leader in China - but before that, he was the son of a peasant farmer, a great swimmer, and a visionary.
Mao Zedong Graphic Organizer
While working at the Peking University Library as a young adult, Mao became a Marxist and went on to serve in a revolutionary army in the year 1911, during the Chinese Revolution. He became an early member of the Chinese Communist party, which was inspired by the Russian movement of communism.
Mao Zedong Multiple Choice
Of the 100,000 people who were a part of The Long March, about how many survived?
Mao Zedong Short Answer
. Find a place on the map that is 50 miles from where you live. Write down the name of the town, city, or area. Can you imagine walking that distance - every day? That is what Mao Zedong and his followers did in the summer of 1935.
Cleopatra Reading Worksheet
Born in the year 69 BC, Cleopatra was the daughter of Ptolemy XII, who was the ruler and leader of Egypt. In 51 BC, her father passed away, and Cleopatra (being the eldest child) inherited the throne - along with her younger brother (also her husband), Ptolemy XIII.
Cleopatra Graphic Organizer
Angry with her brother, Cleopatra fled the kingdom - and when she heard that the Roman leader, Julius Caesar, was in Alexandria (which was then the capital of Egypt), Cleopatra decided to meet with him to make a plea with him to help her win back the throne.
Cleopatra Short Answer
When Cleopatra wanted to meet Julius Caesar, how did she sneak into the city?
Montezuma II Reading Worksheet
Montezuma was the leader of the Aztecs, and he ruled from 1502 until 1520. He was born in 1480, and was trained to become a priest.
Montezuma Graphic Organizer
In this period, the Aztecs controlled Mexico and Central America. During Montezuma's reign, a period of history called The Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire began.
Montezuma Short Answer
Have you ever done something superstitious? If not, speak to someone (a family member or friend) who has, and write a few sentences about it.
Shaka Zulu Reading
One of the most famous South Africans to ever live was named Shaka Zulu, of the Zulu tribe. He was born in 1785. His father was the king of the Zulus, which were a very small tribe that he would eventually be leader of.
Shaka Zulu Graphic Organizer
Shaka's warriors were taught to fight, to build new weapons, and to be very loyal to their king, Shaka, who lived amongst them like any other warrior - even though he could have lived as a king had he desired.
Shaka Zulu Short Answer
Imagine you are young Shaka. You have been outcast from your tribe, but you know you have royal blood. Write a short letter to your tribe telling them how you feel.
Tokugawa Ieyasu Reading Worksheet
Born to a military clan called Matsudeaira, Ieyasu was sent as a hostage to a neighboring clan, the Imagawa clan, in an effort to create an alliance.
Tokugawa Ieyasu Questions Worksheet
Tokugawa Ieyasu: Explain which is the family name and which is the first name.
Alexander the Great Reading Worksheet
As a young boy, Alexander was schooled by Aristotle, one of the greatest Greek teachers. He learned about warriors and heroes, and dreamed of one day joining their ranks and becoming a great ruler.
Alexander the Great Graphic Organizer
Alexander had over 30,000 men under his leadership, and they marched through Iran (which was then known as Persia), conquering Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.
Alexander the Great Multiple Choice Worksheet
When he conquered a city, Alexander the Great forced merchants to do what?
Alexander the Great Short Answer
When Alexander the Great stumbled upon a Greek-speaking village, what did he do to the leader?
Benjamin Franklin's Life Worksheet
Fill in the timeline with information about Benjamin Franklin's life as a leader.
Franklin's Ideas and Discoveries
Benjamin Franklin had many ideas and made many discoveries that make life easier for the people of his day. The trait of a great leader.
Printing Press
Benjamin Franklin started his adult life as a printing press apprentice. Explain how the following inventions changed the printing process.
What Makes a Good Leader
What first comes to mind when you hear the word "leader" - someone who’s a genius, good-looking, or extraordinarily wealthy? What if I tell you that none of those define a good leader? Here’s the truth:
What makes a good leader is being able to lead by example. Leaders should be hard workers themselves, lead with empathy and integrity, communicate effectively and take the time to listen to their team members. They demonstrate a good sense of responsibility and willingness to learn continuously.
Those that can lead good enough to instill hope in their followers make a difference and help shape the world. There is so much history that goes untold. Sure Barack Obama won that little Nobel Peace Prize, but did you know that Mikhail Gorbachev won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. He was a voice actor for the Russian folk recording of Peter and the Wolf. Stranger yet, did you know that Napoleon Bonaparte (yeah that Napoleon) wrote a romance novel when he was a soldier. It was that really mushy stuff too. It took a while, but they got that together in 2008. Did you know that the Dutch Prime Minister rides a bike to work every day? It's not mandated, but he prefers it.
Characteristics of a Good Leader
According to a study by Joseph Rost, one of the earliest definitions of good leadership dates back to the 20th century and is still relevant today.
In his book, Rost concluded that good leaders are “great men and women with certain preferred traits influencing followers to do what the leaders wish to achieve.” If you want to read more about Rost's study on leadership, I recommend you get a copy of his book: Leadership for the Twenty-First Century from Amazon.com.
You see, you don’t need to be from a well-known and influential family or a graduate of a prestigious school to be a good leader. With a lot of determination, hard work, and constant self-improvement, each one of us can be a good leader, no matter our age, gender, or social status. Now, let’s talk in detail about some of the qualities a good leader should possess.
Inspiring Leaders Lead by Example
Think about this – which leader inspires and motivates you more: someone who orders you around or someone who models the behavior they want to see in you and the tasks to be done?
Good leadership means not just giving directions but, more importantly, "practicing what you preach." A good leader takes their team by the hand, and as the saying goes: "talks the talk and walks the walk."
Good leaders should be willing to get their hands dirty and get involved in the actual task. Their maxim should be: "We can do this better, together” rather than “You should do everything yourself."
Effective Leaders Communicate Effectively
Good communication is vital in building successful relationships in life, school, and work. Good communication skills allow an excellent leader to understand people and situations better and convey their message. It also allows them to gain their members’ trust, inspire positive changes, and reduce misunderstanding and conflicts.
Demonstrate a Good Sense of Responsibility
Great leaders understand the weight of their responsibility and are mindful that their decisions and actions will ultimately affect their team.
A good leader must be someone who doesn’t run away from responsibility when the going gets tough but instead embraces the challenges and takes them head-on. They should be willing to give up their self-interest and sacrifice for the common good.
Good Leaders Demonstrate Empathy
This study discussed in Forbes ranks empathy - the ability to understand the feelings and thoughts of another - as the most important leadership skill in the workplace. The same is true in life and other matters.
To be a successful leader, you need to be able to put yourself in your team member's shoes and motivate them based on their needs and emotions.
Now that you understand what makes a good leader, let’s discuss some of the ways to become one.
Steps To Develop Leadership Skills
Leadership skills are not something that we are born with; you gain leadership skills by taking the time to understand how you can positively impact people’s lives and working hard towards that goal. Here are some useful tips to help you develop leadership skills:
Make Leadership Skills a Habit
As they say, a good leader is made, not born. You can master leadership skills by continuous practice and turning these skills into a habit. Focus on practicing one leadership skill at a time and move on to the next skill after you have mastered the other one.
Get To Know Your Team Better
What is the difference between a boss and a leader? A boss gives orders; a true leader listens and positively influences people.
To become an effective leader, you must listen to your members and take the time to know each of them better. Getting to know your members can help you learn more about their strengths and weaknesses and how you can help them create the most significant positive impact on your team.
Be Generous With Appreciation but Careful in Criticisms
As Dale Carnegie points out in his best-selling book How to Win Friends and Influence People, (available on Amazon.com) a good leader should be cheerful in appreciation, generous in giving praise, and know how to criticize constructively without being offensive.
Keep Learning
For a good leader, learning never stops. Leadership is a continuous process of experiencing problems, making mistakes, finding solutions, making changes, and learning from the experience, so you never repeat the same mistakes. The key to being a better leader is admitting that you don't know everything yet and always have something to learn.
Final Thoughts
Taking small steps at a time is the key to becoming the best leader you can be. Focus on improving yourself first; then, you can guide and inspire others to improve themselves, too. Keep in mind that it takes a good heart to shape others and build a successful team.