“Triumph, my Britain, thou hast one to show, to which all the scenes of Europe owe homage. He didn't have an age, but forever!” These were the words written by Ben Jonson, about the one and only William Shakespeare. As a poet and playwright, Shakespeare has long held the title of one of history's greatest and most influential writers. His works have become widely known in countries around the world and have explored topics ranging from politics to sexuality. In the literary world, Shakespeare has had more influence than anyone else. His works have influenced all types of art, from plays to novels to songs. He single-handedly expanded the English language, inventing some 1,700 English words, ranging from common terms to bizarre phrases. But Shakespeare's impact on the world doesn't stop there. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, on April 26, 1564 to a leather merchant and a local landed heiress, Shakespeare was the third child in his family. Although few records exist of his childhood, he most likely attended school where he received an education in reading, writing, and the classics. Around 1594, Shakespeare joined a theater company known as the Lord Chamberlain's Men, where he later became a managing partner and had his plays published and sold. By 1597, 15 of his 37 plays were published and he began to establish himself as an artist. Despite his local fame and popularity, Shakespeare did not become known worldwide until after his death in 1616. Although his political opinions and beliefs were unclear, Shakespeare had a great effect on many world leaders and famous people. The Robben Island Bible, the copy of his complete works disguised as a Hindu text and smuggled into a prison, was marked by activists such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others who were inspired by its passages. Shakespeare played a role in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln , as John Wilkes Booth was inspired by his performance in “Julius Caesar” just a few months earlier. Booth shot Lincoln in a theater, shouting “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” which was a line uttered by Brutus in the 1864 production of “Julius Caesar.” Booth became a Brute in real life, taking the life of the nation's leader to make a name for himself. Shakespeare was also involved in the civil rights movement through Paul Robeson, an African-American actor who played "Othello" on Broadway. . After starring in the show, Robeson gained status and influence with his audiences, conveying an image of strong African character and interracial acceptance to those who saw him. “‘Othello’ took away from me every kind of fear, every sense of limitation and every racial prejudice,” he told reporters. "'Othello' set me free." Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Over the course of his lifetime, Shakespeare produced 40 plays, 150 sonnets, and countless poems. His works portrayed a wide variety of human emotions, conflicts of the time, and controversial topics such as religion and sexuality. His influence spread beyond literature, beyond England, and reached around the world, becoming an inspiration to those who caused change long after his death. As the man considered the greatest writer in history, his works and the morals they present have been adopted by saints and sinners. His ideas were never related to society, but expressed the different sides.