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Womens roles through history
The role of women throughout history
Roles of women through time
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In today’s society, many women hold leadership roles in political and religious settings. However, looking back in history it was very uncommon for a woman to be in a position of power. Although there are exceptions to women holding influential positions long before it was considered socially acceptable. Two particular examples of great ancient female leaders are the Tang Empress of China, Wu Zetian, and the last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra. Empress Wu and Cleopatra are both infamous female monarch rulers who found their way to power by using violence and clever tactics to gain and preserve their positions. Tang Empress Wu Zetian (also known as Empress Wu or Wu Zhao ruled China from 684 A.D. until her death in 705 A.D. (Nicholson, 1996). …show more content…
In Cleopatras situation, Egyptian law required female rulers to have a consort typically being a brother or son (Mark, 2009). Even after receiving the throne in her father’s will she had to marry her ten year old brother making them joint rulers of Egypt. Empress Wu, on the other hand, lost Emperor Taizhong to death and gained the interest of the next heir Emperor Gaozong. The new Emperor was fascinated by Wu and a few years later gave her the title of Zhaoyi (second grade …show more content…
She utilized secret informants to spy and order assassinations of prospective rivals. As Empress, Wu introduced the examination system, which streamlined bureaucracy by worth rather than by noble birth (Dash, 2012). She influenced the promotion of literature and art, lowered oppressive taxes, raised agriculture production, and strengthened public works (Dash, 2012). Cleopatra, on the other hand, focused more on consolidating her power rather than on the matters of the people. She spoke six languages and followed Egyptian traditions and learned how to relate influencing the love of her people. Cleopatra seduced two of the most influential leaders of the time Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony intertwining Egypt with Rome. She became the target of Octavian in the battle of Actium, and later committed suicide (Sayre,
Twitchett, Denis, and J. Wechsler Howard. "Kao-tsung (reign 649–83) and the Empress Wu: the Inheritor and the Usurper". In The Cambridge History of China. 242-89: Cambridge University Press, 1979.
"For Rome, who had never condescended to fear any nation or people, did in her time fear two human beings; one was Hannibal, and the other was a woman" (Lefkowitz and Fant 126). During a time dominated by male rulers, Cleopatra VII Philopator (69 BCE – 31 BCE), the Last Pharaoh of Egypt, stood out among them all. With Egypt’s wealth at her disposal, she was “incomparably richer than anyone else” (Schiff 2). The amount of power a ruler had at the time of Cleopatra’s existence depended highly on the level of financial stability. However, wealth was not all Cleopatra was known for. She exhibited high militant leadership skills equal to that of her male counterparts to keep Egypt a prosperous country.
Born in in 69 B.C., Cleopatra VII was esteemed the last ruler of the Macedonian era. Cunning and brave, Cleopatra would later be known for her notorious affairs with notably formidable men in possession of considerable wealth and prestige. She was born into power, but her test would be her capability to maintain it. Her own brothers became her opponents, so she had to fight to remain leader of Egypt. Cleopatra rose to power by forging alliances with leaders of foreign nations in order to back her claim of the Egyptian throne.
On the one hand, Empress Wu was praised for her contribution to China's politics, economics, the unification of China. She was also influential in maintaining the peace in the borderlands and keep the Chinese culture in tact.
Empress Wang the most ruthless ruler of china. She grew in power more and more using her ruthless manner. Born in February 17, 624 AD. Wu was born into a rich family, and was known for her wit, intelligence, and beauty and was recruited to the court of Emperor Tai Tsung. Had eyes for his son, Kao Tsung.
The power exercised by royal women in Ptolemaic Egypt fascinated me. I particularly enjoyed the example of Ptolemy XII, who was “deposed in favour of his daughter Berenike IV…” (Shipley 213) Removing a father and putting his daughter in place as ruler suggests that ancestry is more important than gender. Although the decision of who should rule was still limited to those who were descendants of the last ruler, rather than the most able member of the population being selected, the fact that Berenike IV was a daughter and not a son did not hinder her. I was also intrigued by the fact that Berenike IV “ruled initially with her sister Kleopatra VI Tryphaina II.” (Ibid) Both women had the same royal blood and neither could claim dominance over the other
Cleopatra; thought to be one of the world’s first celebrities, was born in 69 B.C and was the last pharaoh to rule Egypt of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Like all sovereigns at the time she saw herself as a divine. From birth the Ptolemies were proclaimed to be gods and goddesses in their own right. This made them highly image conscious. Through the shows of her splendour she maintained her mystique and charmed the Egyptians. Cleopatra identified herself as the goddess Isis; sister wife of Osiris and mother to Horus. Living up to the idea of an all powerful god-king. She was able to exercise an incredible amount of power for a woman in ancient society, both in her own right and through the control of powerful men, particularly through her involvements
Cleopatra soon fell in love with someone else by the name of Marc Anthony. They formed an alliance against a Rome leader. Octavian was the legal heir of Julius Caesar , but Cleopatra wanted her son Caesarion to be the heir of his father and be leader of Rome some day. She had Marc help her achieve this, they combined forces and fought Octavian. But they had to go back to Egypt after being defeated.
Cleopatra was born during a time dominated by men, but she overcame her stereotype by becoming one of Egypt’s most successful leaders. The most notable thing about Cleopatra was not that she was just a successful ruler, but rather that she was the most influential woman of her time.
During the time of Ancient Egypt, having strong Pharaohs was essential to the maintenance and growth of the civilization, as the Pharaohs were believed to be living Gods. Although leadership of Ancient Egypt was often male dominated, there were admirable female Pharaohs who successfully gained power and left behind a positive legacy; one woman to achieve this was Hatshepsut, meaning ‘foremost of female nobles’. Her innovation and determination allowed her to maintain her position of Pharaoh for about twenty years (1479-1458 BCE). Hatshepsut was considered to be a very successful leader because of her confidence and ambition, magnificent building projects, and establishment of a strong trading network.
Throughout ancient Egypt’s history, the majority of the pharaohs and rulers were men. Cleopatra VII was a descendant of Ptolemy I, a popular general of Alexander the Great, who established the Greek Ptolemaic Kingdom that would rule over Egypt for almost three centuries. Before Cleopatra’s father, Auletes, became pharaoh, there were many struggles for power throughout the empire. Initially, there was a struggle for the Egyptian thrown involving Cleopatra’s family. Eventually, Auletes won the battle for power and reigned over Egypt for twenty-five years.
Around 69 B.C, one of the most famous female rulers ever known was born, she was Cleopatra. She was the descendent of the Egyptian ruler, Ptolemy XII, and she would eventually become the queen of ancient Egypt herself. She was known for being extremely intelligent and very charming, and because of this many romans feared her and viewed her as a threat. When her father died the throne of Egypt was left to her and her brother, Ptolemy XIII, and rivalry formed between the two, making her even more determined to become the sole ruler of Egypt. Cleopatra had trained all her life to be the successor of Egypt, and she hungered for power.
The most influential women in history was Cleopatra. Born in 69 B.C.E, Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, was the last queen and pharaoh of Egypt. She was also the last Macedonian-Greek ruler of the Ptolemy family. Her reign over Egypt lasted for over twenty of the three hundred years her family had been in power. Cleopatra is known for her two great love affairs with Julius Caesar and his trusted friend Marc Antony. Many people consider her life to have been scandalous, tragic, and compelling to those who were around her. Her lust for power and determination to rule effectively made her enemies dread her. The love she had for her country was timeless. Cleopatra’s legacy and the impact she made in the world, is still a topic of discussion and
Yuan dynasty. The word Ming means “brilliant” and “bright.” The creator and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty was Chu Yuan-chang, who later changed his name to suit him and his new government.
I begin my study of the comparison of Cleopatra and Octavia with Plutarch's The Life of Marcus Antonius, a so-called "historical text." Although Plutarch's writing is perhaps our most trusted source on Cleopatra, his "factual" manuscript is by no means unbiased. Plutarch, as we will see with Shakespeare, Mankiewicz, Dryden, and Fielding in the ensuing pages, presents Cleopatra as the opposite of Octavia. While Octavia represents the Roman ideal of a woman, Cleopatra is a self-seeking Egyp...