In Egypt, only men could become pharaohs because the Egyptians thought the men in the royal family were related to the sun god, Amun-Re. They also thought that men were powerful workers and the best chosen leaders.

One woman changed all that. When Thutmose I died, his daughter, Hatshepsut, married Thutmose II, her half-brother. When Thutmose II died, his son, Thutmose III, was too young to become pharaoh, so Hatshepsut took his place and became pharaoh. On that day, she became the first woman to ever rule Egypt.