There are a number of women that have had a huge impact on the history of the world, although there are some who have had a lot more power compared to some of those who have had more of an influence.
For example, Rosa Parks is perhaps one of the most influential women to have gone down in history for the role she played in regards to the Civil Rights Movement that was being experienced in the United States of America after she refused to move seats on a bus.
However, there are a number of women who have been able to have even bigger influences in world history, with many of them having held power and going on to make a huge difference; not that Rosa Parks did not, mind.
Cleopatra
When thinking of the most powerful women that the world has seen or heard about, the Egyptian ruler is perhaps the most famous of all. She was the last Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt and was considered to have a superior intelligence compared to many of her peers, whilst also going on to improve the country’s standing and economy whilst in power.
Furthermore, her power has made her incredibly popular as a cultural reference and source of inspiration, as she has been portrayed by a number of actresses in films such as Cleopatra (1963) and A Queen For Caesar (1962) which is based on her life prior to her relationship with Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar. It is not only film directors that have taken inspiration, as game developers have made slot games available around her, including the wide variety Online Slots PA has available such as titles Cleopatra and Cleopatra Gold.
Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I is perhaps one of the most powerful women the world has ever witnessed, as the English monarch is remembered through a number of different things that can still be felt within the country that she ruled four centuries ago.
Despite having reigned between 1558 and 1603, which is known as the “Elizabethan Era”, the monarch helped to encourage some of the biggest changes ever witnessed, including the Renaissance and helping to turn England into the Protestant country that it widely is now. The last of the Tudor family, she was also the person to successfully defeat the Spanish Armada.
Queen Victoria
Perhaps trying to follow in the footsteps that Queen Elizabeth 1 had set some two centuries prior, Queen Victoria would have given the former a run to be named one of the most powerful monarchs the United Kingdom has ever had – as would current reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Victoria ruled a British Empire that had stretched over six different continents for 63 years (only the current monarch has managed longer), and she had a significant impact on how the world would look. She abolished slavery throughout all of the British colonies, whilst also giving voting rights to almost every single British man.
In addition, she had an impact on social factors, such as making a number of reforms that impacted politics, military and labour conditions.
Empress Wu Zetian
The Chinese have always been a rather powerful nation, but one that could be accused of being largely male-dominated. However, go as far back as 690-705AD and you will find the only female Emperor to have existed in Chinese history.
Her power will have been defined by the fact that she was able to expand the Chinese empire, help the country to prosper in regards to the economy, whilst also improving the education that was being provided to the country’s people. Those that might question how powerful she was might not know the tale that she killed her daughter and son to try and implicate Empress Wang.
Catherine the Great
When you have ‘Great’ placed after your name, you can guarantee that there was a reason – and a powerful one at that. Catherine the Great was bestowed with that name after what she was able to achieve during her lifetime.
Initially known as Catherine II, she was a German princess who was born in Poland but managed to rule Russia for 34 years after being married to a man who she had plotted to overthrow. She helped to modernise the country and tried to align the country with Western views, whilst also defeating the Ottoman Empire in two ways. Oh, and expand Russia’s Empire over three different continents.
The fact that her rule is considered the Golden Age of the Russian Empire, there is no doubt that she is one of the most powerful women to have ever lived.