In today's political landscape, women rulers are rare. However, thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, women were pharaohs who controlled an authoritarian state in times of war and peace. Despite their success, they often ended up being used as mere pawns in a patriarchal society. By studying the lives of six remarkable pharaohs-including Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra-renowned Egyptologist Kara Cooney explains how these women ruled and what made ancient Egypt unique among the great empires of history. An extraordinary testimony that sheds light on the complexities of their unusual power and explains why nothing like it has ever been seen since. But what was so special about ancient Egypt that women had access to the highest political offices? What was it about these women that enabled them to overcome the obstacles to the throne?