What is the historical significance of Joan of Arc?

Joan of Arc is historically significant primarily because she symbolized French liberation during a crucial period in the Hundred Years' War between France and England. Born in 1412, she claimed to have received visions from saints instructing her to support Charles VII and lead the French army against English domination. Her determination and leadership resulted in a series of significant military successes, notably the lifting of the siege of Orléans in 1429, which shifted the momentum of the war in favor of the French.

Joan's role went beyond mere military involvement; she became a national icon and a symbol of French unity and nationalism. Her devotion to her faith and her unwavering belief in her divine mission inspired her troops and galvanized the French populace around a common cause. After her capture and subsequent trial, her martyrdom only solidified her status as a symbol of resistance and courage in the face of oppression.

The other options do not accurately reflect her historical role: she was not a playwright, nor did she provide leadership for the English, and while her religious experiences were central to her life, they do not encapsulate her broader impact on history as the symbol of French liberation does.