SPECIAL EDITION: Women who fought their way into history

Some of them broke the rules. All of them ruled. [WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH]( [VIEW ONLINE]( [WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH]( [National Geographic]( [WOMEN WHO MADE HISTORY]( A powerful Roman [Empress](. The rebels who [overthrew an empire](. America's [first investigative journalist](. India's [forgotten power broker](. The woman who [declared herself pharaoh](. These are just a few of the extraordinary stories we're bringing you to celebrate Women's History Month. [Find more of these stories here.]( JEAN-MANUEL SALINGUE/RMN-GRAND PALAIS Don’t mess with Messalina. Roman writers missed—or minimized—the extraordinary skills of the commanding wife of Emperor Claudius. They portrayed Messalina, a teenage bride to the 47-year-old emperor, as scandalous and sex-addicted. Ruthless? OMG, yes. Vengeful? For sure. But her real scandal appeared to be overstepping the boundaries of an empress—and adroitly engaging in Rome’s cruel politics. Just like the boys. [Read her full story here](. DAGLI ORTI/AURIMAGES Even in stone: Artworks also have emphasized Messlina’s sensuality rather than her smarts, as shown in this 1884 sculpture (at top) by Eugene Brunet. Above, Messalina is portrayed in her final hour with a dagger in Victor François Eloi Biennoury’s 1850 painting. [Read more]( PHOTOGRAPH BY BRITISH MUSEUM/SCALA, FLORENCE [ FOR SUBSCRIBERS ]( [How three rebel queens overthrew an empire—and gave birth to a new kingdom]( Ancient Egypt fell to invaders in the late 18th century B.C. But while the "Hyksos" took control of the north, a separate dynasty was growing in the south, centered in Thebes. Here is the story of the three lesser-known queens who guided the resistance. [HOW THEY WON]( PHOTOGRAPH BY FRED W. MCDARRAH, MUUS COLLECTION/ GETTY IMAGES [How women claimed their place in America's history books]( This is the story of how frustrations over the exclusion of women from America's national narrative boiled over in the 1970s—leading to the creation of Women's History Month: "The history of women in the United States seemed to be written in invisible ink." [THE OBSTACLES]( [RADICAL ROOTS: The surprising origins of International Women's Day +]( [QUOTE] On Election Day eve [in 1920], white-robed Ku Klux Klansmen marched onto the grounds of a girls' school, aiming to scare Black women away from the polls. When the women turned out to vote anyway, they took their courage from leaders like Mary McLeod Bethune and each other. Martha S. Jones, author and history professor READ MORE: [For Black women, the 19th Amendment didn't end their fight to vote]( PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER HORREE, ALAMY [One of the most powerful woman you've never heard of]( Begum Samru commanded an army, wore a turban, smoked a hookah, took a litany of lovers, and dubbed herself Joanna, after Joan of Arc. [HER STORY]( PHOTOGRAPH BY LUISA DÖRR [Meet the women who are wrestling their way to equality]( "People need heroes, wrestlers, champions of their own who can be admired." Enter Bolivia's stylish Flying Cholitas, women at the fore of an indigenous renaissance. [INDIGENOUS HEROES]( BRIDGEMAN/ACI [ FOR SUBSCRIBERS ]( [The first woman to make a living with her pen]( In the 1300s, Christine de Pisan became a widow with three children. She upended medieval norms not only by refusing to remarry, but by deciding to earn her own living. [A WORKING WOMAN]( IANDAGNALL COMPUTING/ALAMY STOCK [ FOR SUBSCRIBERS ]( [These 7 women fought their way into history]( Celebrated for her intellect and political cunning, Nzinga Mbande defined much of the history of 17th-century Angola—and is one of many women who personally led her troops into battle. [7 WARRIOR WOMEN]( [You know their names. Do you know their stories?]( • [Nellie Bly:]( first investigative journalist]( • [Harriet Tubman:]( [The spy who risked it all]( • [Hatshepsut:]( [The woman who declared herself pharaoh]( • [Zenobia:]( queen who conquered Egypt—and took on Rome]( • [Grace O'Malley:]( 'nursing mother of rebels']( • [Ada Lovelace:]( pioneering 'Countess of Computing']( [Good Morning America has exclusive digital deals from women-owned businesses! You can find the deals, starting at $5 and up to 70% off, at GoodMorningAmerica.com.]( ›› PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTIN JIN [ OVERHEARD AT NAT GEO ]( [What do women in China want?]( There are more than 8 billion humans on Earth, according to the United Nations. And for decades, China has had more people than any other country. But now, China's population is declining and government campaigns are pushing women to get married and have children—but as National Geographic photographer Justin Jin observes, many young women are choosing a different path. [LISTEN TO THE EPISODE]( [QUOTE] The most dangerous part of any form of human oppression is that it can make people believe that there are no alternatives. Angela Saini, science journalist READ MORE: [A man's world? Not according to biology or history.]( [National Geographic is celebrating women breaking barriers, changing their communities, and inspiring global action. 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