Historical People VI: Women in History Quiz

Answer: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut reigned longer than any other woman pharoah in Egypt's history. When she assumed control as Pharoah, she adopted many names and traditions usually reserved for the traditionally male pharoah, including certain titles which resulted in a confusion of masculine and feminine words. Although Hatshepsut's reign was mainly peaceful she also led small raiding expeditions against sites like Byblos.

Answer: Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc, claiming to be acting under the guidance of God, helped the French win many key battles against England and helped Charles VII consolidate his power enough to claim the throne to France. Joan of Arc or "The Maid of Orleans" is one of the patron saints of France.

Answer: Boudica

Boudica was the wife of Prasutagus. After his death the Roman Empire ignored his will, Boudica was flogged and her daughters were raped. This would ultimately lead to an uprising where they destroyed the settlement of Camulodunum (modern day Colchester).

Her success continued when her forces deterred and routed a Roman legion. Boudica would ultimately choose death by her own hand (suicide) over capture or death at the hands of the Roman forces.

Answer: Catherine the Great

Catherine II or Catherine the Great was the longest serving female monarch in Russian history. She extended Russia's borders and increased relations (mainly commercially) with Britain. She also followed a policy of mediation, and even formed League of Armed Neutrality to defend netural ships from the British during the American Revolution.

Another interesting fact: the Hermitage Museum, one of the most respected art museums in the world, began as Catherine's own personal collection.

Answer: Jeanne de Clisson

Jeanne's husband fought against the English in 1342 defending Brittany against the English claimants and forces of John de Montfort. His friend Charles de Blois harshly called him out as a traitor to France due to his failure to hold Vannes against the English.

He was eventually tried for treason and was found guilty. He was killed on the orders of Philip VI. This led to Jeanne's metamorphisis into a pirate, only attacking French ships, and especially delighting in fighting ships with French noblemen onboard as well.

She would eventually retire from piracy whereas her son would go on to fight in the War of Breton Succession (1341-1364).

Answer: Bonnie Parker

Bonnie Parker was known as the Camel smoking partner to Clyde Barrow, and together they robbed several banks and stores, and believed to even commit a few murders. Both Bonnie and Clyde were young criminals out to make a name for themselves that resulted in two of the great criminals of the 1930s.

Emma Krause was Bonnie Parker's mother.

Jane Austen was a writer.

Answer: Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth is known as one of the greatest monarchs in English history. She was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. However due to King Henry's knack for knocking off wives, Elizabeth soon found herself without a mother at only 2 years old.

After becoming queen she presided over what has come to be called the 'Elizabethan Settlement', which placed the Church of England on a firm footing; she fought an impressive, almost entirely naval war against Spain, maintained strong relations with the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible, allowed playwrights such as the famous William Shakespeare to flourish and create great masterpieces under her rule and encouraged great explorers, such as Sir Francis Drake.

Answer: Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony had always been involved in social activism throughout her life. She opposed slavery whole-heartedly. She was the co-founder of both the first Women's Temperance Movement and "The Revolution", a journal fighting for women's rights. She commonly spoke on behalf of such things throughout the USA and is a pivotal figure in the history of Civil Rights.

Answer: Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart was the first aviatix to make a trip solo across the Atlantic Ocean; this is what earned her the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross. She was renowned as an excellent pilot and a strong supporter of woman's rights. Amelia Earhart is widely remembered today for her strange disappearance in the Pacific during a circumnavigational flight of the globe.

Answer: Norma

Norma Jeane Mortenson was renamed Norma Jeane Baker when she was baptized. She would later go on to change her name to the now famous Marilyn Monroe. This superstar sex idol was known for her angelic appearance and was even rumored to have had an affair with John F Kennedy.

Despite her popularity across America she was known as troublesome and difficult to work with and led a tumultuous life. She died of an overdose, which was ruled as possible suicide, but many today wonder if it was a homicide as the possibility was never ruled out.

Answer: Empress Wu Zetian

Empress Wang was Wu Zetian's predecessor while Empress Wei was her successor and daughter in law, and Princess Taiping was a daughter of Wu Zetian.

Under Wu Zetian's reign Bhuddism was the dominant religion of China and she worked hard to make its presence more powerful within the country. She also fought wars on both the Northern and Western borders while simultaneously asserting her right to the throne. She was also known poet writing several poems before her death in 705.

Answer: Clara Barton

Barton tended wounded soldiers during the American Civil War, seeing some of the most gruesome and horrifying sights to behold. She maintained special privileges that allowed her to help the soldiers on the front lines, and even once had a bullet tear through her sleeve and kill a soldier she was tending.

After the Civil War Clara traveled the United States lecturing about her experiences, eventually petitioning the government to form the American Red Cross.

Answer: Tomoe Gozen

Tomoe Gozen (1157(?)-1247) was known for her prowess in battle and beauty off the battlefield. She was a highly skilled archer and swordsman known as a fierce warrior by man and woman alike. She was also featured in the "Riverworld" book and mini series (my favorite series of novels.)

Both Akiko and Hangaku were also samurai.

Answer: Rahab

There has been debate about Rahab's role. The debate as to whether she was actually a prostitute sometimes arises, and it is sometimes said that the red cord she hung out of her window (which the Israelites took as a sign to spare her home) was actually a way for a few Israelites to gain entry into the city while the rest of them made immense noise to serve as a distraction. These Israelites would then be able to take the walls easily. In any case, Rahab's influence with the Israelites is a critical aspect of the history of Jericho.

Bathsheba was the favorite wife of King David.

Eve was the first woman in the Bible.

Naamah the Ammonite was one of the wives of King Solomon.

Answer: Zenobia

Zenobia was an excellent figure of feminine power and defiance, much like Boudica. She led a revolt against the Roman Empire, seizing Egypt for herself and casting out the Roman prefect. She maintained her rule over Egypt until the year 274, before becoming a hostage to Rome. Many believe that afterwards Zenobia became a part of Rome, marrying a Roman governor and senator with a lavish villa, her beauty and inner strength having awed the Romans.

In legend, Zenobia is to be a descendant of Cleopatra VII, Semiramis, and Dido.