Known as “Queen of the Poor” and a friend and colleague of Charles Dickens, Angela Burdett-Coutts was a brave female philanthropist, often going against the advice of her peers to help the poor through her “scandalous projects.” Angela became heir to the Coutts estate at age twenty-three, including a 50% share of the Coutts & Co. Bank, and one of the wealthiest women in England.

In present-day northern Angola, Queen Nzinga Mbande (1583-1663) was a warrior, diplomat, and Queen. She proved to be an exceptional negotiator and diplomat. From 1656 until her death, Nzinga transitioned from warfare to state-building. Matamba became a thriving trade hub dealing with Portuguese and Dutch merchants.

Some medieval monasteries served the local population as urgent care centers since they were centers for studying medicinal plants and experimenting with those described in the classic texts. Monastic herb gardens produced herbal cures for those seeking care and made remedies prescribed by professional physicians.

Edith Wharton’s “The Age of Innocence” critiqued the life of New York City’s elite and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921.

Louise-Reine Audu, “La Reine des Halles” (the Queen of the Markets), was a brave woman of the French Revolution, a leader in both the Women’s March on Versailles in 1789 and the Storming of the Tuileries Palace in 1792.

Many cautionary medieval tales warn of the same happenings and outcomes in modern times. T

Fanny Fern, whose real name was Sara Payson Willis (1811-1872), achieved remarkable success as a writer in the mid-19th century. Her newspaper columns were famous for their humor, social commentary, and general success. Fern’s success helped prove that writing could be a lucrative career as an early feminist writer and that women could succeed in journalism.

In the White Rose Movement in Nazi Germany, Hans Scholl dealt with the ideological and strategic aspects, while his sister Sophie spread the message. She ensured the leaflets reached as many people as possible. As a last act of defiance before arrest, Sophie scattered the leftover leaflets from a university balcony.

The Great Famine of 1268 CE is a cautionary tale from medieval times. The U.S. government views climate change and global temperatures as irrelevant. History begs to differ!

Amidst the chaos and planned destruction of democracy in America, Sun Tzŭ’s ancient text, The Art of War, gives good advice.