Mary Dyer (1611-1660), a Quaker martyr, defied religious intolerance and paid the ultimate price for her convictions. 

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.

Aphra Behn, is an English woman writer who makes her living by writing and spying.