Comparing Ancient Female Rulers, WuZetian and Cleopatra in terms of their situation and ascent to power, their methods of rule, and their achievements and resourcefulness had similarities but were very different. Even their culture had several similarities and differences between them. They each taught us lessons about different types of effective leadership by a female in the world of modern business and / or modern politics. In the ancient times it was easy to compare the ways in which Tang Empress Wu Zetian (also known as Empress Wu or as Wu Zhao; ruled China around 690-705 AD) with Pharaoh Cleopatra (ruled Egypt) rose to leadership. Wu Zetian was only female monarch in Chinese history, Wu Zetian was the cairen, a fifth grade concubine
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Zetian started out as a fifth rank concubine, that lead her into become a resident of a nunnery. This couldn’t keep her down as she caught the eyes of Gaozong the current emperor at the time. He sent forth to make her the second rank concubine which cause her to kill her daughter and frame the head concubine, becoming number one. Six years Gaozong died, and her third son Zhongzong became emperor. Tiring of him, she dethroned Zhongzong, and placed Ruizong, her weakest son, on the throne. But even this wasn’t enough for Wu Zetian; she wanted to be emperor in name and power. So in 690 A.D. Wu Zhao completely took over. Cleopatra was one who used her beauty, cunning, sexuality and powers of persuasion to rise to power. She along with her brother was left to become rulers of Egypt. This caused tension, causing an exile, for her to run into the arms of Julius Caesar whom she married, who was assassinated in Rome by Brutus. Which lead her in the arms of Marc Anthony. Cleopatra and Mark Antony had formed more than a military alliance they became lovers eventually getting married and having several children together. After defeating Julius Caesar's assassins Mark Antony and Octavian, eventually found themselves fighting each other for control of Rome. Cleopatra sided with Antony. Marc Antony killed Brutus to make him pay for his crime. Cleopatra then became Queen of Egypt. Their method of rules was completely different. Zetian used the teachings of Buddhism to justify the ways in which she could be a leader. Zetian, even made statues so that ever one would bow down before her presence. Wu Zetian's achievements was to stop both the Tujue and the Tufan from successfully invading. Occupying part of the Tang territory, the Tujue and Tufan were a long term threat, but Wu successfully defeated the Tufan and negotiated peace with the Tujue. Comparing Cleopatra, her one of her greatest accomplishments was a
Zetian started out as a fifth rank concubine, that lead her into become a resident of a nunnery. This couldn’t keep her down as she caught the eyes of Gaozong the current emperor at the time. He sent forth to make her the second rank concubine which cause her to kill her daughter and frame the head concubine, becoming number one. Six years Gaozong died, and her third son Zhongzong became emperor. Tiring of him, she dethroned Zhongzong, and placed Ruizong, her weakest son, on the throne. But even this wasn’t enough for Wu Zetian; she wanted to be emperor in name and power. So in 690 A.D. Wu Zhao completely took over. Cleopatra was one who used her beauty, cunning, sexuality and powers of persuasion to rise to power. She along with her brother was left to become rulers of Egypt. This caused tension, causing an exile, for her to run into the arms of Julius Caesar whom she married, who was assassinated in Rome by Brutus. Which lead her in the arms of Marc Anthony. Cleopatra and Mark Antony had formed more than a military alliance they became lovers eventually getting married and having several children together. After defeating Julius Caesar's assassins Mark Antony and Octavian, eventually found themselves fighting each other for control of Rome. Cleopatra sided with Antony. Marc Antony killed Brutus to make him pay for his crime. Cleopatra then became Queen of Egypt. Their method of rules was completely different. Zetian used the teachings of Buddhism to justify the ways in which she could be a leader. Zetian, even made statues so that ever one would bow down before her presence. Wu Zetian's achievements was to stop both the Tujue and the Tufan from successfully invading. Occupying part of the Tang territory, the Tujue and Tufan were a long term threat, but Wu successfully defeated the Tufan and negotiated peace with the Tujue. Comparing Cleopatra, her one of her greatest accomplishments was a