During the prehistoric era, most advances in society were developed by women. These advances included agriculture, building, weaving, basketry, pottery, woodworking, trading, and domesticating animals. Pottery and basketry allowed for the long-term storage of food and water and permitted humanity to stop living the nomadic life and begin the first settled communities. The first wheels, appearing in the New Stone Age, were developed in connection with weaving and pottery. Throughout the Old Testament, women are often seen as traders, farmers, and builders. Ancient Egypt has been described by many researchers as the society with the highest documented status ever attained by women. The names of many women appear throughout the annals of ancient alchemy. European women who settled North America brought their skills with them and established themselves in business at approximately the same moment they unpacked their bags. Women were the mainstay of the early mills during the Industrial Revolution, and were the first to exhibit a social consciousness. With the invention of the typewriter and the opening of the first stenography school, women began entering the business world in large numbers. Women continued to enter new fields--science, technology, business, and the trades--and make contributions. This document offers insights, glimpses, and short biographies of these women and others in history. Classroom ideas, notes, and a bibliography are included. (SM)