What made him so famous was he was a preacher that was capable of commanding thousands on two continents through the sheer power of his oratory. He preached at least 18,000 times to 10 million hearers.
They attempted to create perfect communities or utopias
Generally speaking, reading a series of proverbs has affected people of certain faiths in that it inspires them--often in ways that allow them to lead better or more fulfilling lives.
