Historical RenWomen

Hypatia c.360-415 AD was a Greek philosopher, mathematician, and the head of a school where she taught astronomy, logic and the knowledge of Plato and Arisotle.  Caught up in religious feuding, she was murdered by a Christian mob.

Hildegard of Bingen, 1098-1179, was a German philosopher, writer, composer, feminist, Benedictine abbess and mystic.  She wrote letters, poems and songs and founded two monasteries.  She has been recognized by many in the church as a saint.

Trotula of Salerno  c. 11th Century, was a physician and instructor of medicine.  Considered the world's first gynecologist, she wrote a seminal work on women's health, called the Trotula Major.

Isabella d'Este, 1474-1539, was a contemporary of da Vinci and he even made a sketch of her.   She spoke Greek and Latin, played the lute, sang, and was politically astute. 

---

Queen Elizabeth I, 1533 - 1603, is known for her political savvy and ability to rule a nation.  But she could also speak eight languages, and was one of the best generally educated women of her time.

Margaret Fuller, 1810-1850, was an American journalist, critic, and women's rights advocate.  Her seminal work, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, was published in 1845

Eleanor Roosevelt was not only a remarkable First Lady and diplomat, but was the first presidential spouse to hold press conferences, write a syndicated newspaper column and speak at a national convention

Hedy Lamaar is known for being an accomplished and beautiful actress.  But she was also mathematically gifted, and helped develop a frequency-hopping invention devised to prevent enemies from detecting American radio-controlled torpedos.