A Time-Travel Journey Through Women's History
Rediscovering our roots. This is a new category for the PSB community to enjoy. I’ll be posting about once a week a fun article about how women were respected and valued in ancient societies, celebrating their roles as leaders, healers, warriors and wisdom keepers.
Let's Time Travel!
Picture this: You're stepping into a time machine, heading back to meet our amazing ancestors. What you're about to discover will make you sit up straight and think, "Wait... why didn't they teach us THIS in school?”
First Stop: Celtic Lands!
Imagine being a girl in ancient Ireland or Scotland. Here's what your life could look like:
Want to be a warrior? Go for it!
Dream of being a judge? You could do that too!
Feel like owning your own land? Absolutely!
Want to choose who you marry? That's your right!
Meet Queen Medb of Ireland. She didn't wait around for anyone's permission to rule. She led armies, made her own choices, and was known for her wisdom, not her looks. How's that for girl power?
Next Up: Indigenous Americas
In many Native American nations, grandmothers ran the show! They:
Chose the leaders
Made important decisions for the community
Taught the next generation
Held sacred knowledge
The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nations were mind-blown when European women told them they couldn't vote or own property. They were like, "Wait... what? That makes no sense!"
Zoom Over to Ancient Africa
Ever heard of the Dahomey Warriors? These West African women were:
Elite military leaders
Respected strategists
Protectors of their queen
Known for their wisdom AND strength
Their motto wasn't about being pretty – it was about being POWERFUL.
Ancient Norse Lands
Viking girls, get this:
Could inherit property
Ran entire households
Some became powerful priestesses called völva
Were celebrated for their wisdom and strength
Quick Facts That'll Make You Go "WHAT?!"
In ancient Egypt, women could:
Own businesses
Be doctors
Get divorced if they wanted
Keep their own money
In early Japan, some of the most powerful rulers were women
Celtic women could be teachers, doctors, poets, and warriors
Many Native American societies were matrilineal (power passed through moms!)
But Wait... What Changed?
You might be wondering: "If women had all this freedom and respect, what happened?"
The short answer: Some societies came along and decided they wanted to change things. They:
Wrote new rules
Changed the old stories
Made up new ones
Tried to make everyone forget how things used to be
The Cool Part? We're Remembering!
Today, we're rediscovering these amazing stories. And guess what? They're OUR stories!
What You Can Do:
Share these stories with your friends
Ask your grandparents about women's stories in your culture
Start a history club at school
Write your own stories inspired by these powerful women
Fun Activities to Try:
Research a powerful woman from your own heritage
Draw a picture of yourself as a Celtic warrior or Native American leader
Start a journal about what you'd do if you were a queen or chief
Create your own time-travel story to visit these amazing women
Remember:
You come from a long line of:
Powerful leaders
Wise teachers
Brave warriors
Respected healers
Amazing innovators
And most importantly? They were valued for their:
Wisdom
Strength
Leadership
Intelligence
Contributions to their community
Not their appearance. Not their outfit choices. Not their relationship status.
Your Turn!
What kind of leader would you have been in these ancient times? A warrior? A healer? A teacher? A chief?
The truth is, you can be any of these things today too. Because that power? That wisdom? That strength?
It's still in you. It's in all of us.
This is just the beginning of your journey into real women's history. Stay curious, keep learning, and never let anyone tell you what you can't do!
