The international Women's Day, originally called International Working Women's Day, is celebrated on March 8 every year.  In the different areas of the world the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect and appreciation towards women to celebrations for women's economic, political and social achievements.

In particular, March 8 is dedicated to the recognition of the struggles carried out by women and their achievements in terms of rights, economics, policy against discrimination and violence.

The history of this celebration has its roots in the event that the American Socialist Party established Feb. 28, 1909 in support of women's right to vote. In those years, women were active on the issue of social demands, striking and taking to the streets for several days to ask for a pay rise and improvement of their working conditions.

In 1910, the VIII Congress of the Socialist International proposed to establish a day dedicated to women.

A year later, in 1911, in New York the Triangle factory caught fire and almost 150 women lost their lives. Since then the uprisings feminists multiplied throughout Europe.

But it was only in 1917, when the women of St. Petersburg took to the streets to demand the end of the war, which was fixed to March 8 the Women's Day.

Without overlooking the courage of those who have struggled and lost their lives for equal rights, this year we want to focus on women who have played a leading role in history and society, showing the same power and ability in ruling of the men.

The video below shows 10 historical women as the most important, iconic and effective female leaders throughout ancient and modern world history.

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