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    When Women Ruled the World by Kara Cooney Summary

    When Women Ruled the World
    Kara Cooney
    3.68 (8831 Reviews)
    History
    Biography
    Leadership
    Overview
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    Author
    FAQs

    Overview of When Women Ruled the World

    In "When Women Ruled the World," Egyptologist Kara Cooney unveils six powerful female pharaohs who defied patriarchy in ancient Egypt. Why did societies that embraced female leadership 3,000 years ago still mirror our modern "glass cliff" phenomenon, where women lead during crises but rarely keep power?

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    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Divine Feminine: When Women Ruled the Ancient World

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    Imagine a world where women repeatedly rose to supreme power not as exceptions but as guardians of order. In ancient Egypt, against all odds in a deeply patriarchal society, women ascended to the highest position of god-king multiple times throughout its 3,000-year history. These weren't mere figureheads - they wielded genuine authority, commanded armies, built monuments, and steered the nation through crises. Yet their stories remain largely untold, their accomplishments erased or attributed to men. What made Egypt unique among ancient civilizations wasn't just its architectural marvels but its willingness - even requirement - that women take power during times of dynastic vulnerability. Why would a patriarchal society repeatedly turn to female leadership? And what can these forgotten queens teach us about power, gender, and leadership today?

    2

    Egypt's Succession Solution: Women as Dynastic Guardians

    3

    Merneith: Power Forged in Blood and Sacrifice

    4

    Hatshepsut: The Queen Who Would Be King

    5

    Nefertiti: Beyond Beauty to Political Transformation

    6

    Cleopatra: Strategic Brilliance in a Changing World

    7

    Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leadership