Final answer:
William Shakespeare is often regarded as the cultural equivalent of Homer for his impact on literature, paralleling Homer's narrative legacy. Similarly, Sima Qian is viewed as the Father of History by the Chinese, authoring a foundational historical text of great influence in Chinese culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Homer is considered the storyteller for Western Civilization, then in terms of contemporary society, different figures might be seen as equivalent depending on the context. However, given the options provided, William Shakespeare is often regarded as the cultural equivalent due to his profound impact on English literature and storytelling. Unlike Leonardo da Vinci who was a polymath with significant contributions to art and science, or Maya Angelou who is an iconic American poet and civil rights activist, or Steve Jobs who is known for his innovation in technology, Shakespeare's vast body of work has had a lasting effect similar to that of Homer’s epics on narrative structure, character development, and the exploration of human nature.
The Chinese view Sima Qian as the Father of History, similar to how Western Civilization regards Herodotus. Sima Qian authored the 'Records of the Grand Historian', a foundational historical text for Chinese history. This work is comparable to Homer's 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey' in terms of historical influence within their respective cultures.