The world's first female historian was Anna Komnene. In the 11th century, she wrote an extensive account called "The Alexiad" (the source for the above quote) of both Byzantine daily life and the political struggles during the reign of her father, Emperor Alexius I.
Photos: Women from history you should know
Anna Komnene – The world's first female historian was Anna Komnene. In the 11th century, she wrote an extensive account called "The Alexiad" (the source for the above quote) of both Byzantine daily life and the political struggles during the reign of her father, Emperor Alexius I.
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Eighteenth century political thinker and writer Mary Wollstonecraft said that women had equal intellectual abilities to men but were denied education. The quote above is from her most famous work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman", which asked for a radical reformation of national educational systems to help women in both their households and professional lives.
Photos: Women from history you should know
Mary Wollstonecraft – Eighteenth century political thinker and writer Mary Wollstonecraft said that women had equal intellectual abilities to men but were denied education. The quote above is from her most famous work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman", which asked for a radical reformation of national educational systems to help women in both their households and professional lives.
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Margaret Bulkley pretended to be a man called James Barry for 56 years and was only discovered to be a woman after her death. After attending medical school and becoming a military surgeon in India and South Africa, she took on the role of Inspector General putting her in charge of military hospitals. <br />She performed one of the first successful Caesarean sections in 1826. Her methods in medical care, which emphasized better public health, hygiene and diet, led to one of the highest rates of recovery in the Crimean war.
Photos: Women from history you should know
Margaret Bulkley – Margaret Bulkley pretended to be a man called James Barry for 56 years and was only discovered to be a woman after her death. After attending medical school and becoming a military surgeon in India and South Africa, she took on the role of Inspector General putting her in charge of military hospitals.
She performed one of the first successful Caesarean sections in 1826. Her methods in medical care, which emphasized better public health, hygiene and diet, led to one of the highest rates of recovery in the Crimean war.
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Born as a slave in the state of New York, Sojourner Truth was set free in 1827. She then dedicated herself to promoting abolitionism and women's suffrage. In 1851, she gave one of her most famous speeches "Ain't I a Woman?" to the Women's Convention in Ohio.
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Sojourner Truth – Born as a slave in the state of New York, Sojourner Truth was set free in 1827. She then dedicated herself to promoting abolitionism and women's suffrage. In 1851, she gave one of her most famous speeches "Ain't I a Woman?" to the Women's Convention in Ohio.
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This 19th century poet, educationalist and social worker was India's first female teacher. With her husband, she founded 18 schools for girls of all castes, fought for widows' rights and opened the well at their house to people of "lower castes" ('dalit') who were denied access to water elsewhere. The University of Pune was renamed in her honor in 2014.
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Savitribai Phule – This 19th century poet, educationalist and social worker was India's first female teacher. With her husband, she founded 18 schools for girls of all castes, fought for widows' rights and opened the well at their house to people of "lower castes" ('dalit') who were denied access to water elsewhere. The University of Pune was renamed in her honor in 2014.
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Activist Kate Sheppard was a key figure in making New Zealand become the first country to grant women the right to vote in 1893. Sheppard also campaigned for women's right to cycle, greater equality in marriage and the abolition of corsets.
Photos: Women from history you should know
Kate Sheppard – Activist Kate Sheppard was a key figure in making New Zealand become the first country to grant women the right to vote in 1893. Sheppard also campaigned for women's right to cycle, greater equality in marriage and the abolition of corsets.
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In 1903 Polish-French scientist Marie Curie became the first woman to get the Nobel Prize. She later became the only person in history to get it twice in different disciplines (for physics and then chemistry). Her discovery of radioactivity, polonium and radium led to the development of X-ray technology. She did her research at the Sorbonne, where she became the first ever female professor.
Photos: Women from history you should know
Marie Curie – In 1903 Polish-French scientist Marie Curie became the first woman to get the Nobel Prize. She later became the only person in history to get it twice in different disciplines (for physics and then chemistry). Her discovery of radioactivity, polonium and radium led to the development of X-ray technology. She did her research at the Sorbonne, where she became the first ever female professor.
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In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first female pilot to cross the Atlantic on her own. Three years later, she was the first person to successfully fly from Hawaii to California. She wrote two books reflecting on her flights: "20 Hrs., 40 Min." and "The Fun of It". Earhart disappeared on a plane in the Pacific in 1937, while trying to become the first woman to fly around the world. Since then, a lighthouse, as well as streets, schools and airports in the US, have been named after her.
Photos: Women from history you should know
Amelia Earhart – In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first female pilot to cross the Atlantic on her own. Three years later, she was the first person to successfully fly from Hawaii to California. She wrote two books reflecting on her flights: "20 Hrs., 40 Min." and "The Fun of It". Earhart disappeared on a plane in the Pacific in 1937, while trying to become the first woman to fly around the world. Since then, a lighthouse, as well as streets, schools and airports in the US, have been named after her.
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Simone de Beauvoir was a French existentialist philosopher and the author of "The Second Sex", published in 1949, which became a landmark in feminist literature. It analyzed the treatment and perception of women throughout history, and was deemed so controversial that the Vatican put it on the Index of Prohibited Books.