A Brief History
On March 10, 1913, American abolitionist and humanitarian Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia.
Just as we have some men that have shaped the course of history, we also have some women who changed the status quo. Whether it is a major scientific discovery, a life work on charity, or a fight for human and civil rights, there are many women who have stamped their name in history and will continue to be remembered for generations to come. With a true display of passion, strength, and leadership, these women showed that their place is not just “in the kitchen”, and what men could achieve, they could achieve as well.
Some of them had to step on toes, some conquered armies, while a few ushered in the revolutions. While we still have many iconic figures today, our “today” would never have been possible without the great sacrifice and service of these women.
Although we are only mentioning five of the most famous women in history on this list, it does not mean that they are the only ones. Others are also worth knowing, but then you can always get started with the ones listed here.
Digging Deeper
1. Harriet Tubman
You cannot talk about the greatest women of the nineteenth without mentioning Harriet Tubman. She was one of the most famous black women in history. Born into slavery and sold into marriage to John Tubman, Harriet’s life was that of hardship and lack.
She later became free and rose to become a prominent figure that was well respected in the whole world. But that was after she escaped from her master in 1849 and went ahead to become the saviour of her kind. As an advocate for human right, she strongly fought against the slave trade.
2. Cleopatra
While she was not the first queen to sit on the throne of Egypt, she was by far the most prominent and, of course, one of the most famous women in ancient history.
And it is no surprise she claimed the name “Cleopatra” even though it was a general name for the queens.
As the last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra was more than just a queen. She was a woman of great charm and intelligence who could get people to do what she wanted.
While she accomplished a lot of mischief in her lifetime, it is her beauty that is still being celebrated today.
3. Madonna
Madonna Louise was indeed a woman of many talents whose fame extended to the outermost part of earth. While she might not be as popular or important as Harriet Tubman or Mother Theresa, she is one of the greatest women that walked this world.
Her music and movies are still some of the classics we have today. You may as well consider looking through some of them with free pokies games for mobiles whenever you get the chance.
4. Mother Theresa
Few women were as popular as Mother Theresa in the twentieth century.
Originally known as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu before becoming a world figure, Mother Theresa was a nun in the Roman Catholics who is well known for her work on charity.
Though she was born in the early 1900s in Skopje, Macedonia, Mother Theresa later became a citizen of India after taking her missionary work there. According to her, the decision to move to the south Asian country to work with her poorest people was a divine directive from God. She later established the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 in Calcutta which catered for the poor and sick people.
She died as one of the most famous British women in history.
5. Joan of Arc
Popularly known as the “The Maid of Orléans”, Joan of Arc was a Roman Catholic saint and French heroine who helped restore the Dauphin to his throne. But it was the same act of bravery and determination that led to her execution by the English.
She played a major role in freeing the French from the grip of the English and she’s believed to have possessed mystical powers which helped her.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
DK. 100 Women Who Made History. DK Children, 2017.
