They tell us that “history is written by men.”
But here’s what they don’t tell us
Some of history’s most powerful forces were women.
They ruled empires. Sparked revolutions. Reshaped the world.
Here are 20 women who didn’t just make history, they rewrote it... 🧵👇
But here’s what they don’t tell us
Some of history’s most powerful forces were women.
They ruled empires. Sparked revolutions. Reshaped the world.
Here are 20 women who didn’t just make history, they rewrote it... 🧵👇
1. Mary, Mother of Jesus
She didn’t hold a sword or a crown.
But she holds a place in the hearts of billions.
Revered in both Christianity and Islam.
No woman in history has had more spiritual influence.
She didn’t hold a sword or a crown.
But she holds a place in the hearts of billions.
Revered in both Christianity and Islam.
No woman in history has had more spiritual influence.
2. Hatshepsut
She rebranded pharaohs of Egypt.
Dressed as a king. Ruled like a titan.
She made Egypt rich through trade and built temples that still stand.
A woman carved in stone literally.
She rebranded pharaohs of Egypt.
Dressed as a king. Ruled like a titan.
She made Egypt rich through trade and built temples that still stand.
A woman carved in stone literally.
3. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
Before Islam had followers, it had her.
A wealthy merchant. A powerful voice.
The Prophet Muhammad’s first supporter—and wife.
Without Khadijah, Islam might never have survived.
Before Islam had followers, it had her.
A wealthy merchant. A powerful voice.
The Prophet Muhammad’s first supporter—and wife.
Without Khadijah, Islam might never have survived.
4. Empress Theodora
Born into poverty. Lived on stage.
Then rewrote the laws of the Eastern Roman Empire.
She gave women rights, saved a collapsing empire, and stood against mobs when generals fled.
Born into poverty. Lived on stage.
Then rewrote the laws of the Eastern Roman Empire.
She gave women rights, saved a collapsing empire, and stood against mobs when generals fled.
5. Eleanor of Aquitaine
Queen of France. Then queen of England.
But she wasn’t just a royal—she was a ruler.
She led armies, shaped courtly love, and influenced European politics for generations.
Queen of France. Then queen of England.
But she wasn’t just a royal—she was a ruler.
She led armies, shaped courtly love, and influenced European politics for generations.
6. Wu Zetian
China’s only female emperor.
She outplayed the royal court, crushed rivals, and rewrote the rules of Confucian patriarchy.
Her legacy lasted longer than the dynasty that erased her.
China’s only female emperor.
She outplayed the royal court, crushed rivals, and rewrote the rules of Confucian patriarchy.
Her legacy lasted longer than the dynasty that erased her.
7. Joan of Arc
Teenage girl hears voices.
Tells generals what to do. Wins battles. Changes France’s fate.
Then burned alive.
Canonized as a saint. Remembered as a symbol of courage.
Teenage girl hears voices.
Tells generals what to do. Wins battles. Changes France’s fate.
Then burned alive.
Canonized as a saint. Remembered as a symbol of courage.
8. Cleopatra VII
Don’t believe the Hollywood version.
She spoke 9 languages. Ran a nation. Played Caesar and Antony like chess pieces.
The last queen of Egypt almost changed the fate of Rome.
Don’t believe the Hollywood version.
She spoke 9 languages. Ran a nation. Played Caesar and Antony like chess pieces.
The last queen of Egypt almost changed the fate of Rome.
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9. Queen Elizabeth I
Unmarried. Unmatched.
Crushed the Spanish Armada. Sparked the English Renaissance.
Proved a woman could rule without a man—and with an iron will.
Unmarried. Unmatched.
Crushed the Spanish Armada. Sparked the English Renaissance.
Proved a woman could rule without a man—and with an iron will.
10. Catherine the Great
They mocked her rise. They feared her reign.
She expanded Russia’s borders, modernized its government, and embraced Enlightenment ideals.
By the time she was done, Russia had become a European superpower.
They mocked her rise. They feared her reign.
She expanded Russia’s borders, modernized its government, and embraced Enlightenment ideals.
By the time she was done, Russia had become a European superpower.
11. Sojourner Truth
Born a slave. Became a thunderclap.
Her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” shattered America’s conscience.
She fought for freedom—and womanhood.
Born a slave. Became a thunderclap.
Her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” shattered America’s conscience.
She fought for freedom—and womanhood.
12. Queen Nzinga
She didn’t bow to colonizers—they bowed to her.
For 40 years, she led African resistance to the Portuguese, outwitting diplomats and generals alike.
A warrior queen who became a legend.
She didn’t bow to colonizers—they bowed to her.
For 40 years, she led African resistance to the Portuguese, outwitting diplomats and generals alike.
A warrior queen who became a legend.
13. Marie Curie
Two Nobel Prizes. One brain. Zero excuses.
She discovered radiation. Pioneered medical breakthroughs.
And cracked open the atom long before nuclear science was a thing.
Without her, cancer therapy would look very different.
Two Nobel Prizes. One brain. Zero excuses.
She discovered radiation. Pioneered medical breakthroughs.
And cracked open the atom long before nuclear science was a thing.
Without her, cancer therapy would look very different.
14. Rosa Parks
One bus seat.
That’s all it took to shake an empire of segregation.
She wasn’t just tired. She was done.
And the civil rights movement roared to life.
One bus seat.
That’s all it took to shake an empire of segregation.
She wasn’t just tired. She was done.
And the civil rights movement roared to life.
15. Malala Yousafzai
They tried to silence her with a bullet.
She answered with a Nobel Prize.
Now she speaks for millions of girls denied education.
They tried to silence her with a bullet.
She answered with a Nobel Prize.
Now she speaks for millions of girls denied education.
16. Hypatia of Alexandria
A philosopher. Astronomer. Mathematician.
She taught science in a world turning to superstition.
And died for it, murdered by a mob.
Her legacy? The last light of ancient knowledge.
A philosopher. Astronomer. Mathematician.
She taught science in a world turning to superstition.
And died for it, murdered by a mob.
Her legacy? The last light of ancient knowledge.
17. Harriet Tubman
Escaped slavery. Then went back again and again to save others.
She became a spy, a soldier, and a symbol.
Freedom had a conductor. Her name was Harriet.
Escaped slavery. Then went back again and again to save others.
She became a spy, a soldier, and a symbol.
Freedom had a conductor. Her name was Harriet.
18. Mother Teresa
A nun with no possessions.
Yet held the world’s attention.
Her work with the poor earned her a Nobel Prize—and the love of millions.
A nun with no possessions.
Yet held the world’s attention.
Her work with the poor earned her a Nobel Prize—and the love of millions.
19. Indira Gandhi
India’s first female prime minister.
She led through war, reformed agriculture, and held the world’s largest democracy together in crisis.
India’s first female prime minister.
She led through war, reformed agriculture, and held the world’s largest democracy together in crisis.
20. Hildegard of Bingen
Medieval nun. Mystical visionary. Musical genius. Medical writer.
She challenged the church and left behind works that still spark debate today.
Medieval nun. Mystical visionary. Musical genius. Medical writer.
She challenged the church and left behind works that still spark debate today.
These women were Politicians. Warriors. Scientists. Saints.
And their shadows still stretch across our world.
Which woman from history should I go more into detail? Drop her name. 👇
And their shadows still stretch across our world.
Which woman from history should I go more into detail? Drop her name. 👇
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