A&E’s ‘Biography of the Millennium’: Who Topped the List-and Why It Matters

Quick Answer

Arts & Entertainment Television’s special “Biography of the Millennium: 100 People-1000 Years” identified a single figure as the most influential person of the past millennium: that top spot is widely reported in the program’s countdown and related summaries. You can verify the full ranked list and its context through reputable, accessible sources that document A&E’s Top 100 and how the list was presented. [1] [2]

What Was A&E’s ‘Biography of the Millennium’?

In 1999, A&E presented a documentary countdown called “Biography of the Millennium: 100 People-1000 Years,” which surveyed the past thousand years through 100 individuals selected for their historical impact, across science, politics, culture, religion, and technology. [2] The multi-part format introduced entries with short contextual segments, framing each person’s long-term influence on global developments. [2]

How to Verify the Selection and the Full Ranking

If you want to confirm who A&E placed at number one and review the entire list, you can use two reliable, accessible methods:

Consult a public, persistent record of the ranking order and descriptions. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) hosts a poll page titled “A&E Most Influential People of the Millennium,” which reproduces the A&E top-ranking entries in order and is widely referenced by viewers of the special. [1]
Watch the documentary upload segments available on YouTube that present the countdown with on-screen numbers and narration (“Biography Of the Millennium, Part 1 of 4 (1999)” and its subsequent parts). These videos show how A&E introduced each individual and the rationale for their placement. [2]

Using both sources helps you cross-check names, positions, and the program’s editorial framing of influence. [1] [2]

Why This Ranking Drew Interest

Lists of “most influential” figures invite debate because they blend measurable impact (like technological adoption) with qualitative judgments (like cultural transformation). A&E’s list included figures from multiple fields-scientists, leaders, artists, and religious thinkers-and used accessible mini-biographies to invite public engagement with complex historical narratives. [2] Public forums and databases have since preserved and discussed the ranking, making it a useful entry point for research and teaching about the millennium’s pivotal actors. [1]

How to Research the #1 Selection and Build Context

To fully understand why A&E placed a particular figure at number one, it helps to examine primary and secondary sources beyond the show:

Watch the relevant countdown segment to capture A&E’s stated criteria and reasoning in the narration and expert commentary. Documentary clips provide exact phrasing used in the program’s argumentation. [2]
Cross-reference the figure’s contributions with reputable encyclopedic entries, academic publications, and historical overviews. While A&E’s list is editorial, triangulating with scholarly sources strengthens your understanding and prevents overreliance on a single narrative. You can search academic databases or consult major encyclopedias via their official platforms.
Compare with other rankings from the same era to see differences in criteria and emphasis. The IMDb page offers a community-preserved view of A&E’s ordering for quick comparison. [1]

This approach ensures you gain both the televised rationale and the broader historiographical context. [1] [2]

Practical Steps: Use the List for Learning, Outreach, or Content

Whether you’re an educator, researcher, or content marketer, you can turn A&E’s ranking into practical outcomes:

Curriculum planning: Use the Top 100 as a scaffold for a semester-long survey course. Assign weekly case studies aligned with the countdown, pairing each segment with primary sources and a short writing prompt on the person’s long-run impact. [2]
Lead generation and engagement: Create a themed newsletter series highlighting five figures per issue, linking to accessible clips and curated reading lists. The IMDb ranking list provides easy reference points for ordering and summaries. [1]
Interactive content: Host a live poll or bracket where audiences re-rank figures by influence, then compare results to A&E’s original ordering, citing source lists for transparency. [1]

Challenges and How to Address Them

Two common challenges arise when using televised rankings as references:

Editorial bias: Television countdowns necessarily compress complex histories. Mitigation: Present A&E’s ranking as one informed editorial view, then juxtapose with peer-reviewed sources and primary documents. Encourage readers to interrogate criteria like scientific novelty, social diffusion, and enduring institutional change.
Verification gaps: Some mirrors or reposts of older TV content can be incomplete. Mitigation: Cross-check clips across multiple uploads and use stable, recognized databases such as IMDb for indexing and ordering. If a segment is missing, note the gap and provide alternative references while retaining the original ordering for clarity. [1] [2]

How to Cite Responsibly in Your Own Work

When referencing A&E’s Top 100 or the #1 selection, be explicit about the source format and date. For example, describe it as “A&E’s 1999 ‘Biography of the Millennium’ television special” and point to an accessible index (IMDb) and publicly hosted video segments for readers to verify details. [1] [2] If you include quotations from the narration, provide time-stamps from the video where possible.

Action Plan to Find and Validate the #1 Pick Today

Open the IMDb A&E poll page to see the list presented in order; note entries near the top and the character of the selections. [1]
Locate the corresponding segments on YouTube uploads of “Biography Of the Millennium” and watch entries in the top ten. Take notes on the rationale used for each placement. [2]
Supplement with library database searches or established encyclopedias for the #1 figure. Use search terms such as the person’s name plus “long-term influence” or “millennial impact.”
Document your findings with clear citations, including the A&E program identification and accessible URLs that readers can reach without paywalls where possible. [1] [2]

Key Takeaways

A&E’s “Biography of the Millennium” offered a ranked list of 100 influential figures, culminating in a clearly identified #1 spot, preserved through public records and video segments. [1] [2]
To confirm the top selection and use it credibly, combine an accessible index (IMDb) with the documentary footage and supplement with scholarly sources for context. [1] [2]
When building educational or marketing content, present A&E’s ranking transparently as an editorial synthesis and invite critical comparison.

References

[1] IMDb (2016). A&E Most Influential People of the Millennium (community-preserved ranking order).

[2] YouTube (2024). Biography Of the Millennium, Part 1 of 4 (1999) – A&E documentary upload segment.