When Women Ruled the World Summary

“What made ancient Egypt different? It repeatedly allowed women to rule, showing that even in a patriarchal society, female leadership could thrive in times of crisis and change.”

1. Egypt's Divine Kingship Allowed Women to Rule

Ancient Egypt operated under a system of divine kingship where rulers were believed to be godlike representatives on Earth. This system made leadership less about gender and more about the sacred duty of leading as a divine figure. As long as rulers successfully embodied divine power, leadership was achievable for women too.

Though the system prioritized male leadership, uncertainty and crisis often opened the door for royal women to take charge. Succession crises or child kings needing guidance often saw women stepping in as regents or even becoming rulers in their own right, breaking patriarchal norms.

A key factor for women's leadership was mythology. Figures like Isis, the goddess depicted as a mother and protector of kingship, legitimized female regents or rulers. Thus, women such as Merneith and Cleopatra rose to the throne and protected Egypt during unstable times.

Examples

• Queen Merneith served as regent for her young son and safeguarded his kingship.
• Cleopatra aligned herself with Roman leaders to preserve Egypt's independence.
• Isis’s role in mythology as protector of the king allowed female authority to be seen as natural.

2. Queen Merneith Ensured Stability Through Strategy

Queen Merneith’s rule as regent for her young son, King Den, set an early example of female leadership in Egypt’s first dynasty. Her story reveals how women in power managed to stabilize volatile situations.

When her husband died, leaving their son too young to rule, Merneith stepped in as regent and upheld order in Egypt. She orchestrated the burial rites of her husband with strategic human sacrifices that removed potential rivals to her son’s power.

Moreover, Merneith supported her son in developing his military leadership, making him effective upon reaching adulthood. Such proactive decision-making solidified her family’s lasting hold on the throne.

Examples

• The Palermo Stone listed Merneith among the kings, showcasing her unique role.
• Human sacrifices during her husband’s burial neutralized potential threats.
• King Den’s later military success highlighted her influence as regent.

3. Incest and Inbreeding Caused Succession Crises

Following myths like that of Isis and Osiris, ancient Egyptians valued royal incest to maintain the purity of bloodlines. However, continual inbreeding eventually led to genetic issues that caused sterility, deformities, and succession struggles.

One famous case was King Tutankhamun, who reportedly had significant health problems due to generations of inbreeding. These issues sometimes left Egypt suddenly without an heir, enabling women like Neferusobek to fill the leadership void.

Rather than just acting as placeholders, female rulers like Neferusobek took action. She legitimized her reign by continuing monumental projects and tried stabilizing Egypt during a drought. Her reign demonstrated women’s resilience in facing compounded challenges.

Examples

• Neferusobek’s father and brother were both victims of inbreeding but left no heirs.
• Her reign halted deeper chaos during a famine period but lasted only four years.
• She was the first woman to hold the formal title of King in Egyptian records.

4. Hatshepsut Ruled Egypt with Lasting Impact

Hatshepsut became one of the most successful pharaohs by leveraging her authority for both stability and growth. Despite initially serving as regent, she declared herself co-king beside her young nephew, formalizing her position.

Hatshepsut enhanced Egypt's wealth and influence globally through trade and military expansion. She orchestrated extensive architectural projects such as the Temple of Millions of Years, cementing her legacy.

Following her death, male successors like Thutmose III tried to erase her name from history, but her temples, monuments, and achievements ensured her story lived on.

Examples

• Hatshepsut led military campaigns into Nubia.
• She launched large-scale trade expeditions to enrich the empire.
• She constructed iconic monuments like her temple in Thebes.

5. Nefertiti Reinvented Leadership Amid Crisis

During her husband Akhenaten’s tumultuous reign, Nefertiti demonstrated adaptability and resilience. Initially his queen, she later took on new roles to manage the fallout of his religious reforms.

Akhenaten defied tradition by promoting one god, Aten, above all others, sparking religious and political unrest. Nefertiti supported his efforts but, after his death, likely ruled Egypt herself under a male name.

As she adopted different identities, including possibly Smenkhkare, Nefertiti worked to stabilize Egypt by restoring old gods and preparing Tutankhamun to rule. Her ability to adapt highlights her strategic genius.

Examples

• Nefertiti ruled as Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten after Akhenaten’s death.
• She helped restore Egypt’s traditional polytheistic religion.
• Her influence paved the way for Tutankhamun’s eventual rule.

6. Tawosret Seized Power with Ruthlessness

Unlike earlier queens, Tawosret used force and cunning to take control. As regent to the young King Siptah, she orchestrated political maneuvering that eliminated rivals, including the powerful officer Bay.

After Siptah’s sudden death, Tawosret crowned herself King, making her the first woman to rule unaccompanied. However, her reign ended in conflict, as she faced resistance from elites.

Despite her brief time in power, Tawosret’s boldness shows that female leaders could make political moves rivaling any man in Egypt’s history.

Examples

• Tawosret allegedly orchestrated the murder of Bay, a major political rival.
• Her self-coronation post-Siptah defied expectations for women in leadership.
• Her reign ended violently with the rise of Setnakht, a warlord.

7. Cleopatra’s Diplomacy Nearly Changed Egypt's Fate

Despite living in the shadow of male-dominated Rome, Cleopatra adeptly used diplomatic and romantic alliances to keep Egypt independent for decades. Her relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony weren’t merely acts of personal attachment but calculated political moves.

Cleopatra bore Caesarion as a potential heir to both Egypt and Rome, creating a unique dynastic bid for power. Aligning later with Marc Antony, she tried to build an Egypt-Rome axis.

Ultimately, Roman opposition to her influence led to war, but Cleopatra’s political savvy demonstrated how women could engage in international maneuvering just as ambitiously as men.

Examples

• Cleopatra’s son with Caesar gave her leverage in both Egypt and Rome.
• Her alliance with Marc Antony offered military and strategic support.
• Roman propaganda painted her as manipulative, even though her goals were pragmatic.

8. Women Rulers Were Both Accepted and Suppressed

Though female leaders helped stabilize Egypt many times, they were often erased from history or only allowed power during crises. This pattern reflects broader patriarchal structures even in a society where divine kingship occasionally enabled women to lead.

When women ruled, they often emphasized their connections to the previous male lineage or presented themselves as male to gain acceptance. Yet their achievements were overshadowed or distorted by successors.

These stories serve as reminders that, despite systemic gender barriers, women repeatedly rose to the challenge and proved instrumental to Egypt’s survival.

Examples

• Hatshepsut depicted herself in masculine regalia to assert authority.
• Merneith’s legacy was overshadowed by later dynasties.
• Cleopatra’s contributions were erased by Roman narratives.

9. Female Leadership Thrived in Times of Crisis

Ancient Egypt shows that women excelled in leadership roles, especially during crises. Their pragmatic approaches often leveraged diplomacy, internal stability measures, or bold strategies to protect the nation when male successors faltered.

By operating differently from their male counterparts, many women leaders built consensus and avoided rash decisions leading to further chaos. These findings echo the value of broadening our views on leadership.

Ancient Egypt thus provides lessons for modern societies, reminding us that inclusivity in leadership can foster long-term stability.

Examples

• Hatshepsut’s trade networks brought prosperity amid political uncertainty.
• Nefertiti reestablished religious norms while navigating succession issues.
• Tawosret’s short reign still demonstrates a break from male-dominated norms.

Takeaways

1. Study history to find role models from diverse perspectives; female leaders like Hatshepsut or Nefertiti offer valuable lessons.
2. Challenge modern biases against women in leadership by recognizing their success in roles throughout history.
3. Recognize emotional intelligence and diplomatic approaches as assets, not weaknesses, in leadership roles.