Influential_Women_of_the_Past

Throughout time women have left some kind of imprint on history. In ancient Egypt women played a particularly important role in the country’s history. Women were respected by society and were given the chance to voice their opinions and gain power. There were even women who gained the chance to rule Egypt. All women were of great importance in the home and in religion, which were main parts of Egyptian society. These women from the past influenced Egypt and have helped the country succeed and become what it is today. Ancient Egyptian society was mainly focused around the family and around religion, in both of these aspects of Egyptian life women held great influence. In accordance to the point that women were an important part of family life, all wives, mothers, and daughters were highly respected and were held in high caliber. Women ran the household, unlike in many societies where the male is the head of the family. Not only would women raise the children but they would also take care of the family affairs, which is commonly considered to be the male’s role.1 And not only did women have an important role in their family but they also had great influence over religion. Goddesses would hold high and superior positions in the religious pantheon and there would be no complaint about this from the male population. 2 These religions, female figures shed a light on women that revealed them to be religious as well as powerful and hard working. Women were highly respected because of the hard work and tasks they achieved, it was only through diligence and perseverance that women were able to pull themselves up to the place in society that they held then and the place in society that they hold today. In ancient Egypt it was believed that everything had a duel; something that was the opposite of it. It was generally believed that women were the duel of men. They complimented each other and were dependant on each other. Unlike the modern world where each gender strives to be independent, the two genders in ancient Egypt saw each other as equals and did their best to work together. Each sex played a different role in society but in the ending outcome, they worked together to reach the ultimate goal. In ancient Egypt women were respected enough that had the same economic and social rights that men possessed; women were able to own land, marry, divorce, hold powerful positions and even rule the country.3 In many other countries women were not given many rights, if any at all, which made the way of life in this country unique. In ancient Egypt women were able to live above sexist policies that would limit their rights and their way of life. Women were able to gain power and importance and respect in society and because of this, they were able to leave their mark on the history of the country. Many women in ancient Egypt were courageous and fearless and were able to rise up to high place of power. One such leader was Tiye, the wife of Amehohtep III. She had great influence over the country as well as over her husband’s decisions. She held power over the country’s international affairs and would make other important decisions for the country. She was the ruler of the country while her husband was simply the “face” of Egypt; she made all of the important decisions. Tiye is only one example of female leaders, there were many others throughout time who made extremely important decisions for the country. Even in our modern day there have been few females who have held the highest positions in the government. There have been many who tried but so far not one of them had been able to accomplish becoming the President of the United States. Egypt has had women ruling the country since ancient times and there has never been a problem with that. Many other countries could learn a thing or two from the ways of ancient Egypt. Women have always been held in the highest respect in Egypt and have always been an important role in the history of the country. Women were not only of importance in the household but also in religion and in the ruling of the country. Women played a very important role in society and the history of Egypt is greatly influenced by what they have done for the country.