When Women Ruled the World by Kara Cooney

Title: When Women Ruled the World

Author: Kara Cooney

Publisher: National Geographic 2020

Genre: History

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

*Female rulers are a rare phenomenon—but thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, women reigned supreme. Regularly, repeatedly, and with impunity, queens like Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra controlled the totalitarian state as power-brokers and rulers. But throughout human history, women in positions of power were more often used as political pawns in male-dominated societies. Why did ancient Egypt provide women this kind of access to the highest political office? What was it about these women that allowed them to transcend patriarchal obstacles? What did Egypt gain from its liberal reliance on female leadership, and could today’s world learn from its example?

In this captivating narrative, celebrated Egyptologist Kara Cooney delivers a fascinating tale of female power, exploring the reasons why it has seldom been allowed through the ages—and why we should care.*

An extremely dense yet ultimately fascinating and informative look at six queens of ancient Egypt. I knew some about Nefertiti and a lot about Cleopatra, but the four other queens were new to be. I loved how Cooney weaves in general history and culture about ancient Egypt and with what we know about these specific six women.

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