For millennia women mostly left their mark on the world unrecorded, whether they influenced events in a subtle yet significant way, or whether they changed the course of history. This title features a hundred of the important women whose profiles show a fresh aspect of history, reflected in the lives of queens, military leaders, and campaigners.

For millennia women mostly left their mark on the world unrecorded, whether they influenced events in a subtle yet significant way, or whether they changed the course of history. Only in the past century have concerted efforts been made to represent the contributions of women more fully in the history books. This Britannica Guide features a hundred of the most important women whose contributions have endured throughout the ages. Through their profiles we see a new aspect of history, reflected in the lives of queens, military leaders, campaigners, scientists, thinkers, writers and entertainers, from Cleopatra to J. K. Rowling. This panoramic and international roll-call of names is brought together by an illuminating introduction from leading historian, Kate Williams, who explores the role women have played in the defining moments of history.