Compare And Contrast Elizabeth I And Nzingha Of Ndongo

Many of the world’s greatest rulers have been women. Queen Nzingha of Ndongo and Queen Elizabeth I of England were two strong leaders who transformed their countries with new policies and ruling techniques. Under the influential rule of their queen, both England and Ndongo became peaceful and prosperous nations. Elizabeth I, from Greenwich, England, is recognized as one of the great rulers of the Western world. Growing up, tutors were astonished at the fact that she could play music and speak numerous languages. At age 25, she became queen. Her father, eldest sister, and brother had all died, which left her next in line for the throne. Though many people predicted that her reign would not last long, Elizabeth quickly disproved their underestimations

After she rejected a Spanish king’s marriage proposal, he sent 130 warships in retaliation. Elizabeth famously destroyed them all, which led to England’s emergence as a dominant naval power. Always dancing, Queen Elizabeth I viewed “the literary life...as a worthy endeavor” (Krull 31) and strongly supported the works of scholars. Her original poetry and speeches, as well as her love of music and drama, encouraged cultural growth throughout England. She inspired countless people to pursue art and literature, and many later women writers credit Elizabeth for their

Instead, they focused on devoting themselves to their countries. Queen Elizabeth I even claimed that she was married to her kingdom. They contradicted the common belief that queens needed a king to rule by their side. Without the distraction of a husband, Elizabeth and Nzingha were able to fully concentrate on bettering their kingdoms. On the other hand, Elizabeth and Nzingha dressed differently. To assert her power, Nzingha dressed in animal skins and other men’s clothes. She wanted to make herself seem tougher, so she armed herself with axes, bows and arrows. In contrast, Elizabeth dressed in several layers of clothing to hide her small body. She also used white powder to cover up her bad complexion. While Nzingha focused on making herself seem powerful, Elizabeth preferred to cover up her imperfections with bulky clothing. Though the queens had contrasting ideas, both were successful and extremely devoted to the