The Most Powerful Women in History

• Total of four Female Pharaohs in Egyptian history

• Hatshepsut (18th Dynasty) , Nefertiti (18th Dynasty), Cleopatra (Ptolemaic Dynasty) – Three Most Important

• During their reign – major accomplishments in Egyptian history

•Daughter of Thutmose I and Ahmese•Married half-brother King Thutmose II•Thutmose II died in 1490 BCE Hateshepst’s stepson (Thutmose III) became Pharaoh•Hatshepsut served as regent•With support of Amon’s priests, Hatshepsut was crowned Pharaoh

•Encouraged trade and expeditions to other lands (e.g. Punt)•Sponsored many monumental building projects in Egypt•Built herself a great memorial temple, Deir el-Bahri

•Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten (ruled 1367 to 1350 BCE)•First Pharaoh to preach monotheism•Nefertiti supported her husbands beliefs•Nefertiti/Akhenaten’s reign known as Amarna Revolution•Changes in art, religion, social practices•Rumoured that after Akhenatan’s death Nefertiti ruled under the name of the name of the next Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty – Name of ‘Nefertiti’ erased from history

•Cleopatra VII was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Dynasty•After death Egypt became Roman Province•50 BCE Cleopatra meet Caesar – She was 19, he 52 – had an affair•44 BCE Caesar was assassinated•41 BCE Cleopatra meet Antony•37 BCE she married Marc Antony (Roman General) – Both died in 30 BCE (committed Suicide)

•69 BCE Born in Alexandria•Had two younger brothers, one younger sister, two older sisters•Father was Ptolemy XII

•Cleopatra was said to be Macedonian

(descended from) •Cleopatra wasn’t really as beautiful as people say•Hatshepsut was the longest ruling Female Pharaoh

•Alexander the Great founded the

capital of Alexandria in Egypt

•After his death Egypt was ‘given’

to the Ptolemies (Cleopatra’s bloodline)

•Cleopatra was first Ptolemaic ruler to learn Egyptian