Women Behind the Curtain: Sorghaghtani Beki

<p>Sorghaghtani Beki (c. 1190-1252) was one of the most powerful people in the Mongol Empire. Daughter-in-law to Genghis Khan, she used unique forms of diplomacy to cement her place in Mongol society and create a path forward for all four of her sons to become Khans in their own right. Her reforms, passed on through her children, gave stability and prosperity to the Mongol Empire at a crucial moment.</p> <p><strong>For Further Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-Mongol-Queens-Daughters/dp/0307407160">The Secret History of the Mongol Queens</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctt1g09twn.9">2 Regents and Empresses: Women’s Rule in the Mongol’s Empire</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://ejasonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-8-Zhang.pdf">Sorghaghtani Beki and the Influence of Mongol Noblewomen on Succession</a></li> </ul> <p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">This month, we're pulling back the curtain to reveal women overlooked in their own lifetimes or in our historical accounts of the eras in which they lived. We're talking about the activists, thinkers, leaders, artists, and innovators history has forgotten.</p> <p>History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.</p> <p>Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous S