An explorer, archaeologist, diplomat, and spy, she travelled extensively through the Middle East, forging alliances and shaping history. Her influence in the formation of modern Iraq was immense, yet her contributions were long overlooked. Fluent in Arabic and Persian, she, a Western woman, navigated the complexities of the region in a way that no Westerner ever had, earning her a place at the highest levels of British imperial strategy.

A Woman in a Man’s World

Born in 1868 to a wealthy British family, Bell was afforded an exceptional education for a woman of her time. Her mother passed away when she was just three, after which she formed a close bond with her forward-thinking father, who supported her throughout her life. She attended Oxford University and became the first woman to graduate in Modern History with a first-class degree.

However, academic success was not enough. A restless spirit, she sought adventure beyond the confines of England, embarking on extensive travels that took her through Persia, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Arabia. She fell in love with the deserts, learned the languages of the people she encountered, earned respect and gained an unparalleled understanding of cultures and tribal politics.

Not that she didn’t have her fair share of troubles. Local people were often understandably wary of this British woman wandering the desert. She must have been quite a sight amid the dunes, travelling with damask tablecloths, silver cutlery, and full formal dinners – not to mention the luxury of a bath in her tent. During one expedition in 1913, while travelling from Damascus to Riyadh, she was captured and placed under house arrest before being sent back to the UK. Undeterred, she soon returned to Basra and Baghdad.

Also unusual for a woman at the time was her love of sport and mountaineering. In fact, she was so frustrated by the lack of appropriate clothing for female climbers that she wore her undergarments to climb, which was pretty radical in the early 1900s. She even has a peak named after her – Getrudspitze in the Swiss Alps – in recognition of her 8,635ft ascent in 1901.

A Cartographer of Empires

But it was Gertrude’s expertise in the Middle East that caught the attention of British intelligence. During World War I, she was recruited by the military and stationed in Basra and, later, Baghdad. Her knowledge of the desert tribes and their loyalties made her invaluable. She worked closely with T.E. Lawrence – better known as Lawrence of Arabia – on mapping the region and advising British officials on local politics.

At the 1921 Cairo Conference, Bell played a crucial role in establishing modern Iraq and installing Faisal I as its first king. She had long argued for Arab self-rule and opposed direct colonial governance, believing the region’s people should shape their own future. Her influence was so significant that she was one of the few women at the heart of imperial decision-making, sketching borders and negotiating with tribal leaders. For better or worse, the lines she helped draw still define the region today.

Preserving Iraq’s Heritage

Beyond politics, Gertrude was passionate about education for Iraqi women as well as archaeology. She was instrumental in founding the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, which housed invaluable Mesopotamian artefacts. Appointed as the country’s Director of Antiquities, she drafted laws to ensure that historical treasures remained in Iraq rather than being taken to Europe. The museum remains one of her greatest legacies.

Literary Contributions

She was also a prolific writer, documenting her travels and experiences in several books such as Persian Pictures (1894) and The Desert and the Sown (1907), in which she writes about her travels through Syria and Mesopotamia and the lives of the Bedouin tribes she befriended.

Bell also translated works of Persian poetry, proving her deep engagement with Middle Eastern language and literature. Her extensive letters and reports during World War I were crucial in shaping British policy in the region, making her an explorer and an influential historian and political thinker.

Despite her remarkable influence, Bell remained a somewhat obscure figure until recent years. Perhaps she was overlooked when the Feminist movement reclaimed historical women because of her anti-suffrage stance, but Gertrude was a trailblazer whose life inspired others. The documentary Letters from Baghdad is a great watch that looks at her life through her own letters, with a compelling narrative of her experiences. Additionally, Georgina Howell’s biography, Queen of the Desert: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell, paints a vivid picture of her adventures and political manoeuvres.

From the shifting sands of the Arabian deserts to the libraries and archives that hold her letters, Gertrude Bell’s legacy is everlasting.