1. Rosa Parks 1913 – 2005
Parks became famous for refusing to give up her sit to a white passenger, this action instigated the civil rights movement. When she refused to give her seat, this led to the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, the largest movement against racial segregation and in effect her actions also launched to Martin Luther King, Jr., into prominence during the civil rights movement. She has been to referred to as, the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement."
2. Joan of Arc 1412 – 1431
Considered a national heroine in France, Saint Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909 and declared a saint in 1920. At only 19, with military training and just visions of recovering France from English domination she said were from God, she lead a French army to the city of Orléans, where it achieved victory over the English. After the crowning of King Charles VII, she was captured by Anglo-Burgundian forces, and burned for witchcraft and heresy.
3. Hatshepsut, King of Egypt Reign 1479 BC to 1458 BC
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Considered by many Egyptologists as one of the most successful female pharaohs. She reigned longer than any other woman in the Egyptian Dynasty. She ruled peacefully, commissioned various construction projects during her time, and established wealth and prosperity for Egypt.
4. Wangari Maathai (1940- 2011)
Kenyan Wangari Maathai was the founder of the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization with a focus of environmental conservations, tree planting and women's right. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace."I don't really know why I care so much. I just have something inside me that tells me that there is a problem, and I have got to do something about it. I think that is what I would call the God in me."
5. Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Curie was a physicist and chemist and is generally considered to be one of the most famous scientist of her time. Along with her partner she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in "recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel." She was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize. Then in 1911, she received her second Nobel Prize this time in chemistry for her advancement of chemistry by the discovery of the elements radium and polonium. She remains alone with Linus Pauling, to win two Nobel Prizes. Other achievements include establishing the first military field radiology centers during World War I.
Honorable Mentions:
Indira Gandhi
Mother Teresa
Maya Angelou
Aung San Suu Kyi
Catherine II, Empress of Russia
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