Chronology of Women’s History

This is a narrative chronology of women’s experiences and achievements throughout world history, from Cro-Magnon childbirth and ancient Egyptian cosmetics, to Janet Reno and the Tailhook scandal. Entries are arranged by year or group of years in an format of ten subject categories. Here the reader will find information concerning women’s legal rights, life expectancy, medical care and daily tasks, as well as the achievements of thousands of individual women in politics, warfare, jurisprudence, literature, the visual and performing arts, athletics, exploration, activism, business, science, scholarship and religion. Almost every inhabited area of the globe is covered; well-known periods of Western history are covered thoroughly and supplemented by information from Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa. Women have had to overcome major obstacles throughout human history and they have accomplished much despite those barriers. This work contains many thousands of testimonies to their achievements. Each chapter covers a year or group of years and consists of ten categories: general status and daily life; government, military and the law; literature and the visual arts; performing arts and entertainment; athletics and exploration; activism; business and industry; science and medicine; education and scholarship; and religion. Brief entries summarise the most important or characteristic events of each period, while explanatory essays illuminate broad trends and unusual aspects of women’s lives in a variety of cultures. Information can be located by consulting the topic and name index.