Review Article Forgotten History of Empowered Women Muhammad Moiz Khan Department of History, University of Karachi

Abstract Background: Since the time immemorial half of the humanity has been ignored and hardly mentioned in the history book compared to the other half of humanity. Citation: Khan M. Forgotten History of History has been written by men, of men and for men. There is tons of literature empowered women. IJWE. 2019; 5(1):35- talking about and glorifying kings, generals, lords, inventors, poets, writers, 42 philosophers, artists, that were men. However not much literary work has been Corresponding Author Email: produced on the same scale to exalt the other gender. [email protected] Methodology: The literature search was employed through electronic databases

DOI: 10.29052/2413-4252.v5.i1.2019.35-42 including Embase, PubMed, Research gate, Scopus & Google Scholar. The most difficult question to settle before embarking upon this research was which Received 10/07/2019 personalities should be selected for fulfilling the criteria of the research. Eventually Accepted 20/08/2019 selection was made covering most parts of the globe since ancient times. Results: The study of history reveals the fact that women in the past have Published 14/12/2019 contributed in almost every field yet they were just mentioned in margins of Copyright © The Author(s). 2019 This is history and as a support, rather than the main characters. Although women have an open access article distributed under influenced in many fields but this study revolves around few empowered women the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, who influenced socio-political arena of their time and space. which permits unrestricted use, Conclusion: It has become imperative to bring the forgotten past of these women distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and to build upon the rational of gender equality. source are credited. Keywords Women Empowerment, History of Women, Gender Equality Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

Conflicts of Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Introduction from the front and made through the ranks through highly competitive patriarchy. In this study attempt has been made to bring Pantea Arteshbod was one such woman. The to the lime light the forgotten past of few history of Persian Empire would not be extra ordinary women who have played complete without mentioning her name and significant roles in their relevant capacities. It her feats. In Pantea means was difficult to make a choice between so 'strong1. She was one of the greatest generals many such women and to highlight few of of the Great, the most notable amongst them. The selection thus was made to bring Achaemenid rulers. women from different parts of the world.

She commanded the most prestigious Women have played significant roles in military unit of ancient Persian Empire the almost every field of life. They have worked Immortals2. This section of the Persian army side by side along with men in the progress was the pride of the emperor feather in the of the human society from the very cap. It was a unique unit which was specially beginning. Even when human beings were raised from the early age to serve the living nomadic life and they were called emperor and it always inducted only people hunter and gatherers, men used to hunt and of Persian blood to keep loyalty to the women used to gather the food that was emperor. It was a great honor for anyone to available on the plants and trees. command such a prestigious unit of army.

Later after the Neolithic Revolution at She led Immortals into the battle of , one around 8000 BCE human beings started to the most significant battle during the reign of grow food and rear animals. During this time . It took place in 539 BCE women used to work alongside men in the between Cyrus and the Neo-Babylonian fields. Until now in agrarian societies all Empire3. After the great victory of the Neo- across the world women work alongside men Babylonians Cyrus complete his conquest of in the fields actively and participate as equal as this was the last strong hold. labor over the top of their house hold duties. After the battle Pantea took control over a Men used to do the hard labor like, plowing large area and brought balance to the newly the field, making water channel and women conquered area or the new extension of the used to plant seeds, water fields, plucking, Empire. harvesting and threshing along with men.

Cleopatra (69-30 BCE) Pantea Arteshbod: (559-529 BCE Time of The last of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Cleopatra Cyrus the Great) has always been portrayed as the most Amongst the greatest of the empires in fascinating leader in the history. All the History, Achaemenid Persian Empire has a stories and fiction written about her has place of its own. It was an unmatched and captivated readers from all shades of life. unique empire spanning over parts of Asia, Novels, dramas and other literature has been Europe and Africa. Persian Empire was the written about her for the last two millennia. earliest of the large empires followed by In the last century she was subject of motion Greek and Roman Empire. History is witness movies as well. It would not be wrong to say to the fact that behind all great empires there that Cleopatra is the most known historical were always few great personalities behind figure and Egyptian pharaoh. She was the them who made it possible for kings and only Ptolemaic ruler who learnt Egyptian emperors to attain and retain their power. and declared herself as the daughter of

Egyptian god Ra (the sun god)4. Where history screams about the male

general and warriors it hardly whispers the Historian trace her ancestry to Macedonia, names of great women warriors who lead the city state of Alexander the Great, her

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distinct ancestor. Before Roman Empire, of enemy. She took her own life by a snake Greeks had a considerable influence over bite. Egypt after its conquest led by Alexander. She was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Her suicide is probably the most famous Dynasty which was established in 305BCE suicide in the history. She did everything to and ended along with Cleopatra’s death in 30 defend her rule and protect her lands from BCE4. outsiders. It was unfortunate time of Egypt that it had lost the glory and might it once She was an intelligent ruler who ruled Egypt have had. With her demise the final conquest with utmost responsibility. She continued and takeover of Egypt by Romans was her rule in the face of the daunting enemy in complete. the form of Roman Empire. Egypt did not have the military power to resist against the Rabia Basri (717-801 CE) might of Romans. She had to take an alternate Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya commonly route to continue, protect and consolidate her known as Rabia Basri is one of the most rule. She used her charm and delicate revered Muslim women outside the family of diplomatic skills to delude two Roman Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). She was Emperors one after another (Julius Caesar born during the time of Ummayyad dynasty and Augustus Caesar) and a great general and in the year when Umar bin Abdul Aziz (Mark Antony)5. became the Caliph, 717 CE. She was born in a famous historical town of Basra, located at One of the greatest literary work of William the juncture of , and Kuwait. It was Shakespeare (1564-1616 CE), Antony and a very busy place because it also served as a Cleopatra revolve around the personal and trade route between these countries and even nationalistic ambitions of the queen which . fail at end. Her reputation as a queen surpasses several other queens and had no She was the fourth daughter to her parents in competition during her time across the the time when girls were not considered as a world. First, she courted with Julius Caesar child of choice7. However, her father, a the Roman Emperor of the time and even had mystic himself raised her well. After his a son with him known as Ptolemy XV death she was separated from her sisters and Caesarian in 47BCE4, which Julius never lived a solidary life in desert. Throughout her acknowledged. She even visited Rome along life she devoted herself towards the love of with Julius and sent ripples across Roman God and never let the worldly affairs come in Senate. The visit was very beneficial for her her path. She gave new meanings to the love rule in Egypt and alliance with Rome of God and defined mysticism for later however it did not please the senators who generations to follow. Her prayer to God is a criticized Julius for this act. depiction of it,

Later she consorted with Marcus Antonius “O Allah! If I worship You for fear of Hell, burn (popularly known as Mark Antony)6. She me in Hell, also had twins with him, Cleopatra Selene and if I worship You in hope of Paradise, exclude and Alexander Helios who survived after her me from Paradise. death. Augustus Caesar was ambitious and But if I worship You for Your Own sake, wanted to extend his rule officially over grudge me not Your everlasting Beauty.” Egypt6. He first got rid of Mark Antony and later dealt with Cleopatra. He had Islam gave equal rights to women and announced that he would go to Egypt and elevated the status of women to new levels take it over. To avoid the humiliation and while in Europe women deprived of any foreseeing her possible fate she chose to die equal rights and social status. Rabia Basri an honorable death rather than by the hands became an example of the social values of

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women in Islam. She was revered very highly royal affairs and traditions. During a by almost all of her contemporaries and after campaign in Gawaliar in 1230-31 CE, her death she left a philosophy of Sufism Iltutmish had to leave capital for several behind her for later generations to follow. months, he appointed Razia as his “Rabia Basri constantly and all the time was replacement to deal with the day to day absorbed in the thought of affairs in the royal court. At the death bed, God and had reached the pinnacle of mystic “the dying monarch named his daughter path i.e., Fina-Fillah”8. In another poetic work Raziyya. The courtiers, scandalised by this she stated that, suggestion, urged the insuperable objection of her sex, and the king, languidly replying "Your prayers are your light; that they would find her a better man than Your devotion is your strength; any of her brothers, turned his face to the wall Sleep is the enemy of both. and died, on April 29, 1236”9. Your life is the only opportunity that life can give you. Her superiority over her surviving brothers, If you ignore it, if you waste it, Nasir Uddin Mehmood had died during life You will only turn to dust." of Iltutmish, was evident and was acknowledge by her father as well. However Until today she remains amongst top three still she had to face hardships to claim her Qalanders in Muslim history8. For over right full throne. Ignoring the advice of their twelve hundred years she has influenced dying king the nobles placed Rukn Uddin countless lives and character of Muslims and Firuz on the throne and later, time proved considerable non-Muslims as well. She lived that Iltutmish was right. He was a weak ruler a life of hardships and struggle and never and the kingdom was virtually governed by deviated away from the path of devotion his mother Shah Turkan, a mistress of towards the God. She has undoubtedly laid Iltutmish. With six months the legacy of down the foundations of Sufism and mystic Iltutmish was destroyed by the duo and traditions in Islam. Today a lot can be learnt resulted into many rebellions. While Firuz from her teachings, poetry and life struggle to was away from Delhi, Razia seized the stay on one path and stay away from conflict opportunity and compelled general public of and violence. Delhi to rise against the immoral and destructive rule of her step brother and place Razia Sultana (1205-1240 CE) her to the throne as her father wished. She was a daughter of the second Sultan of Slave Dynasty, Iltutmish. Her siblings, three In November 1236 CE she became the first brothers were Nasiruddin Mahmud, Muiz female ruler of Muslim world. She was an ud din Bahram and Rukn ud din Firuz. Her outstanding monarch. She had declared to father is considered as the real founder of the the people that if she does not meet their Delhi Sultanate because he expanded the expectations, they can overthrow her from Muslim rule and consolidated it by laying throne. She exited the attention of orthodox down strong foundations of administration. by shedding female clothing and wore king’s Razia was a favorite of her father from the attire in battles. She headed the open courts very beginning and accompanied him in and rode in public. The world during the many of the official affairs of the state. thirteenth century was not ready for such dynamic woman. She was probably the only Razia Sultana had a spark since her one across the world to be able to achieve childhood and was very attentive in the state greatness as a monarch. She bravely affairs of her father. She learnt combat and challenged the system of nobility established horse riding as a princess. She was also since the time of Qutub Uddin Aibak and favored by her father over her brothers later fell victim of their intrigues. She because her brilliance in various aspects of flaunted her affection for an Abasynian man

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Jammal Uddin Yaqut (master of horse, royal looked more than confident that she can stable). He kept loyal to him until he was put defeat British and claim the land back for down by her opponents. She ruled with such France. She had to convince everyone to give fervor that no one challenged her in battle her a chance. It looked almost impossible to field and whoever did she was able to give command of a regiment of army in the overpower them. It took deep rooted hands of a teenage girl in the medieval conspiracies by people close to her to get rid Europe where women did not enjoy much of her. civil liberties.

Her character estimate is best described in the She finally was able to accompany army to following words by, Shrivastav, “Although the siege of Orleans where French were her reign was brief, lasting barely for three trying to oust British for the last five years and a half, she was, without doubt, a months12. After her arrival she was able to very successful and extra ordinary ruler. She turn the tables by her presence and charisma. was brave and energetic. She was a good She was struck by an arrow during a battle soldier and general. She was adept in the arts between neck and shoulder while carrying of political intrigue and diplomacy. She French banner but it did not deter her succeeded in restoring the prestige of the motivation and she continued until French Turkish kingdom in India, she raised the were victorious. The tales of her great victory power of the crown and made it absolute. In spread quickly amongst the French and fact, she was the first Turkish ruler of Delhi British both. French found a new motivation to have imposed the royal will upon the and believe and on the other hand amirs and maliks. Qutub-uddin was the chief superstition penetrated in the ranks of noble among the nobles. Iltutmish was shy to English army who considered Joan as the sit upon the throne in the presence of his sign from God. peers. Other members of the dynasty of Iltutmish, both before and after her, were British king was fully aware of the danger of much weaker in personality and character. such fears in his army and devised a plan to Raziah was, therefore, the first and the last capture her and get rid of her through trial ruler of Iltutmish's dynasty to dominate the and declaring her a heretic. Otherwise she politics of the Sultanate of Delhi by sheer would be as dangerous as alive if die as a force of her ability and character”10. martyr. In May 1430 she was deceived and captured with the help of conspiracy. Later Joan of Arc (1412-1431 CE) she was shifted in the strong hold on British A simple poor girl belonging to peasants of where she faced a religious trial. The main France came on the scene for just over a year purpose of the trial was not to give her a changed the course of war in the favor of chance to explain her self rather it was an France, her mother land during the Hundred attempt to declare her as witch. Years War between France and England. At the tender age of 17 years and few days Joan Almost after a year on 30th May 1431 she was approached the court of King of France and burnt alive at stake in front of people. Her claimed that she had been guided by God to dead body was burnt until she was reduced take command of the French army and lead to ashes and then her ashes were thrown into them against the invaders11. Seine River13. Undoubtedly, she was the most feared women by British throughout their Many took her as a joke until they saw the history. She can be termed as the most seriousness behind her claims and devotion. powerful and influential teenage girl in the The French king and nobility were frustrated history of the world who influenced great and demoralized by the consecutive defeats military events during the time when women by the hands of invader and their advances were not considered as equals. on the lands of France. Joan on the other hand

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She broke many stereotypes. She led army However, he was unable to divorce his first being a woman. She wore battle clothes and wife because of the political pressure. On the actively participated in battles by carrying other hand, he cannot marry another wife her banner when the role of women was because polygamy was forbidden in Catholic limited to tending the wounds of the fallen Church and pope refused his request for a soldiers. One of the charges she faced during second marriage. His desperation led him to her trial was ‘cross-dressing’. She cut her hair break away from the church and became the short for her convenience in the battles. She head of Anglican Church in England through single handedly brought life to the already ‘Act of Supremacy 1534 CE which permitted demoralized army and turned their defeats him to marry Anne Boleyn16. To his surprise into victories14. rather than a boy, a girl was born and she was named Elizabeth. Later Henry killed Anne A retrial took place in 1455 CE by the order of Boleyn on the charges of adultery and Pope Callixtus III after deliberations over few married another wife. He ended up marrying years finally declared her as innocent. Since six women throughout his life. then she was not considered as a heretic. After almost five centuries in 1920 CE she Since the death of her mother the young girl was canonized by Catholic Church by Pope was not given the due attention a child need. Benedict XV and declared as Saint Joan of She was always considered as illegitimate Arc. Finally, she received the honor she child of her father and had almost no chances deserved for serving her nation and people. of claiming the throne for herself. It was a due to the deaths of her step siblings, first Edward Elizabeth (1533-1603 CE) and Mary next, that paved the way for her to She was a very unfortunate child who become a queen. At the time when became became the cause her mother’s death because Queen of England was fighting a civil war in her father wanted a boy. However, she was the name of the religion because Mary of the most fortunate princes who lived a life of Scots, her sister was a staunch catholic and hardship due to the shadows of bastard turned the country back to Catholicism. offspring of King Henry VIII and became the Elizabeth favored a separate English church queen of England by virtue of turns of events. as her father had established and her first No one had thought that she would ever challenge was to put the whole country on survive the wrath of her step sister Mary of single page regarding this issue17. Scots who did not consider her a legitimate child of her father. She did not only survive The next big challenge she faced was from the her; she also became the queen after her husband of her dead sister Philip II who was death. also the king of Spain, a greater power at the time in Europe. Philip extended the marriage Elizabeth was the daughter of one of the most proposal to Elizabeth after the death of his glamorous kings of England, Henry VIII. He wife and queen of England Mary, which was was the second king of Tudor dynasty and flatly refused by Elizabeth18. This refusal was the one who laid the foundations of the not taken lightly by Philip who decided to power full England of future15. Henry was teach a lesson to English queen by sending married to Catharine of Aragon the princes of the most power naval fleet in the history until Spain and power parents. He severely that time the Spanish Armada. In 1588 CE desired a boy however he was unable to get Spanish Armada reached the English waters one from his first marriage. He became and was met by defiant and resilient English involved with a French maid in the royal navy which through their superior naval household known as Anne Boleyn. She was combat techniques were able to defeat the impregnated by the king and he wanted to undefeated Armada. The defeat of Spanish marry her before the birth of the child which Armada was the most considerable in his view was going to be a boy. achievement of Elizabeth which turned the

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direction of politics in Europe for future. The of the world can never be forgotten and supremacy of Spain over the politics of undone. Europe was shaken up by her. Ada Lovelace 1815-1852 CE: Her most famous quote is, “I know that I In the twentieth century the biggest have the body of a weak and feeble woman, development amongst all the other but I have the heart and stomach of a King.” inventions and developments was in the field She throughout her reign proved it. Her task of computing. In the first twenty years of to rule a country in Europe four centuries ago twenty first century the advancements in the was more difficult than a man, because she information technology are moving forward had to prove to the society every day that she on an unprecedented pace. In current times is capable and has the ability to be their every one knows the names of Bill Gates, monarch. Her rule was not devoid of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg etc. No one opposition and people who wanted to get rid has any idea about the beginning of the of her. She had to deal with them on regular journey through which computing and basis. She refused to take a partner in life information technology has reached this because she wanted to give most to her level. country. She remained single until her death. It was an ultimate sacrifice she had to give. It’s a common knowledge that computing is based on algorithms which allow machines to She turned England into one of the greatest perform complex tasks. The person who power in Europe at the time. She smashed the realized this fact and developed algorithm gender stereotypes through her rule and for the first time was a woman known as Ada proved to the world that women are not less Lovelace in 1843 CE19. Initially she was asked than anyone. She was the only female to translate a research paper of Luigi monarch of Europe who ruled the country for Menabrea and she wrote her notes on it while such a long time without the shadow of translating it. Her notes were of such quality father or husband. Her administration was that later her notes were published 1843 CE one of the most efficient in Europe which and recognized as original scientific resulted into the might of England. During contributions. Charles Babbage, a great her rule England started to claim an mathematician himself praised her work and important role in the politics of Europe. She stated that, her notes were three times the commissioned explorers and companies to actual work she was translating20. trade in the new lands of the world. British East India Company was commissioned Through her work she was able to convince during her rule in 1600 CE. The glory the world that Analytical Engine is capable of England has enjoyed for the last four far more than just computing simple centuries is due to the strong and efficient mathematical tasks. Her published work was reign of Elizabeth which brought peace, first published algorithm ever in the history21. tranquility, harmony and prosperity to the We can easily state that due to Ada Lovelace country. we are able to enjoy all the technology based on computers. Her strong personality has been the subject of literature and popular culture for over four Conclusion centuries. The earliest and most famous was Limited data is in favour of positive effect of the Epic poem “The Faerie Queene” written a music on psychological parameters but it is great poet Edmund Spenser in 1590 CE. It is firmly demonstrated that music consistently a long work based on Elizabeth. The most and reliably interferes with the mental recent is the two movies series Elizabeth by performance, also indicated by our study. But Hollywood. Her legacy is immense and her it is recommended that further studies contribution to England, Europe and politics should be performed to compare the positive

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or negative impacts of music or the specific 11. Wilson-Smith T. Joan of Arc: Maid, Myth type of music causing either positive or and History: Maid, Myth and History. negative effect on memory and attention. The History Press; 2011. 12. Lord J. Beacon Lights of History: Great Conflicts of Interest Women (Vol. VII). New York: James N/A Clarke and CO;1886. 13. Hobbins D. The Trial of Joan of Arc. Acknowledgement Cambridge: Harvard University Press; I would like to thank Dr. Sadaf Ahmed for the 2005. encouragement to write an article on the 14. Fraioli DA. Joan of Arc and the Hundred history of Women. Later with her Years War. London: Greenwood Press; consultation the title was finalized. This 2005. research work would lead to more of this 15. Weir A. Henry VIII. New York: kind. Ballantine Books; 2000. 16. Weir A. The Six Wives of Henry VIII. References New York: Grove Press; 1991. 1. Historical Women: Powerful Women of 17. Ronald S. Heretic Queen: Queen Persia.[Updated April 24, 2020] [Cited ELizabeth I and the Wars of Religion. April 6, 2020]. Available at: New York: St. Martin's Press; 2011. http://www.persepolis.nu: 18. Paranque E. Elizabeth I of England http://www.persepolis.nu/queens.htm through Valois Eye: power, 2. Brosius M. Women in ancient Persia, 559- Representation and Diplomacy in the 331 BC. Oxford University Press; 1996. Reign of the Quee, 1558-1588. 3. Gershevitch I, Yarshater E, Avery P, Switzerland: Palgrave; 2018. Jackson P, Lockhart L, Melville CP, 19. Stein D. Ada: A life and a Legacy. Hambly G. The Cambridge History of Massachusetts: MIT Press; 1985. Iran: The Median and Achaemenian 20. Stewart I. Significant Figures: The Lives Periods. University Press; 1968. and Work of Great Mathematicians. New 4. Kuhlman EA. A to Z of Women in World York: Basic Books; 2017. History. New York: Facts on File; 2002. 21. Essinger J. Ada's Algorithm: How Lord 5. Trow MJ. A Brief History of Cleopatra: Byronn's Ada Loelace launched the Empress of Egypt. 2013. Philadelphia: Digital Age. New York: Melvile House; Robinsons. 2014. 6. Roller DW. Cleopatra: A biography. Oxford University Press; 2010. 7. Smith M. Rabi'a The Mystic and Her Fellow-Saints in Islam: Being the Life and Teachings of Rabi'a Al-Adawiyya Al- Qaysiyya of Basra Together with Some Account of the Place of the Women Saints in Islam. New York: Cambridge University Press; 1984. 8. Hanif N. Biographical Encyclopaedia of Sufis: Central Asia and Middle East. Sarup & Sons; 2002. 9. Haig W. The Cambridge Hisoty India (Vol. III). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1928. 10. Srivastava AL. The Sultanate of Delhi 711-1526 AD. Shiva Lal Agarwala; 1966.

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