World-Changing Women: The Biographies

Alexandra Kollontai, inspired by Marxist ideals, became a member of the revolutionary government and led a campaign to help women working in the appalling textile factories. Read her story here...

After experiencing an unhappy marriage an even unhappier divorce, Caroline Norton successfully campaigned to make women equal to men in the eyes of the law. Discover more about her life...

A rights activist against the exploitation that was prevalent in South Africa, Charlotte Maxeke was South Africa's first black female graduate and one of the first female freedom fighters. Find out more about her extraordinary story...

When Christine de Pizan became widowed in her mid-twenties, she supported her extended family by becoming one of the first female writers in Europe. Find out more about her life...

Spartan females had much more freedom than other women in the ancient world; this allowed Cynisca of Sparta to win the Olympics twice. Find out more about her victories here...

Emily Davies firmly believed that education was fundamental in improving a woman's place in society and strived for equality. Read her story here...

Hildegard of Bingen spent many years wiriting her prophetic visions down, helping the sick and preaching in a time of male hierarchy. Read up on her religious life...

Laura Bassi is perceived as the first woman to hold down a science career, setting up a renowned school in her own home. Read up on her acheivements here...

Lucretia Mott campaigned for slavery abolishment and women's rights in public meetings at a time when women were silenced. Discover her incredible story here...

As a single woman in the early 20th century making ends meet was no easy feat, so it's remarkable that Madam CJ Walker became the first female self-made millionaire in America. Read her story here...

Manuela Sáenz fought to liberate her Lima and Peru from Spanish colonialism and rose to be a general in Bolivar's rebel army. Discover more about her extraordinary tale...

Marie-Louise Girardin escaped partental disgrace by disguising herself as a man and joining an expedition to the New World. Read about her extraordinary life in this article...

Mary Prince's published tale of violence at the hands of her owners had a great impact on anti-slavery campaigns, eventually bringing the slave trade abolishment. Read her remarkable history here...

Murasaki Shikibu worte the world's first novel, twice as long as War and Peace. Discover what is known about her life in this article...

Queen Nzinga managed to call a halt to Portuguese slave raids in her kingdom through clever tactics. Read about her legacy in this article...

The Trung Sisters, to this day, are well-celebrated in Vietnam thanks to their succesful resistance against the Chinese army. Learn more about their history here...

In the 17th century Nur Jahan exerted power over her Emperor husband, allowing her to give opportunities to orphaned girls and architectural developments in India. This article outlines her remarkable leadership...

New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote, thanks to Kate Sheppard. Find out more about her time as a political activist...

Commemoration – remembering and marking your past – makes an important contribution to our sense of community. This free course, History as commemoration, considers ways in which written texts, memorials, letters and photographs can all serve to commemorate events, people and values we wish to remember from our past.

The free course will examine the Enlightenment. To help understand the nature and scale of the cultural changes of the time, we offer a 'map' of the conceptual territory and the intellectual and cultural climate. We will examine the impact of Enlightenment on a variety of areas including science, religion, the classics, art and nature. Finally, ...