Women's history

A medieval illustration of women fighting and toiling alongside men during a siege

Crusader queens: the formidable female rulers of Jerusalem

We mark International Women’s Day with a panel discussion tackling the central issues of women’s history. (Images by Getty Images)

The big questions of women’s history

100 women who changed the world

Women’s history podcasts: 18 HistoryExtra episodes not to miss

Mary Anning was an extremely prolific fossil hunter

Mary Anning: the woman who hunted dinosaurs

'Pirate queen' Grace O'Malley. (Illustration by Sue Gent for BBC History Revealed)

Grace O’Malley: the fearless pirate queen of Ireland

Black and white photo of a group of women marching while holding a sign saying 'International Women's Day'

A brief history of International Women’s Day: what is it and why do we celebrate it?

Amelia Earhart, Princess Diana, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks and Marie Curie. (Photo by Getty Images)

20 inspirational quotes from women through history for International Women’s Day

Mary Seacole is best known for her work during the Crimean War, where she cared for injured soldiers. But she was also well-known as a hotelier, traveller and author – a celebrity of the Victorian era. This is a contemporary painting of her

Mary Seacole: Victorian celebrity, joyful hotelier and Crimean nurse

Egyptologist Aidan Dodson explores the life, death and afterlife of ancient Egypt’s sun queen. (Image by Getty Images)

Nefertiti: wife, mother, pharaoh

Helen O’Hara highlights female pioneers of film, and reveals some of the challenges faced by women working in Hollywood over the past century. (Image by Getty Images)

The women who fought back against Hollywood

Broadcaster and author Cathy Newman shares stories of duos that changed the course of history. (Image by Getty Images)

Rivalries and romances: couples that shook up history

The Featherington sisters (played by Nichola Coughlan, Harriet Cains and Polly Walker) curtsey to Queen Charlotte in Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’ as part of their debutante debut. (Photo by LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX © 2020)

From balls to Bridgerton: a brief history of debutantes and the social season

Fiona Sampson speaks about the extraordinary life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. (Image by Getty Images)

Elizabeth Barrett Browning: poet, activist, trailblazer, runaway

An oil on panel portrait of Elizabeth Woodville

Elizabeth Woodville: Edward IV’s controversial queen

A women drives oxen pulling a loaded wagon train through the Black Hills (in South Dakota or Wyoming) in 1887

From the real Calamity Jane to ‘Madam Moustache’: pioneer women of the Wild West