For many thousands of years, people have used oratory to influence others, but what exactly makes a speech great? Is it the choice of words, the feelings they express, the passion with which the speaker delivers them, the circumstances or the lasting effect that the speech has on what other people think or do, or even on the course of history?

The speeches in Speeches that Changed the World are divided into the following chapters: Ancient history, Love, Religion, Science, Patriotism, Philosophy, Humanity and liberty, Sport, Politics and War. Many of them have inspired people to act, some have changed the way people think or look at the world. Others have changed the course of events across the globe - sometimes for the better, at other times with devastating results.

All have chronicled our history...