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Christina Baith
Professor Lark
History 134
15 August 2016
Portfolio Reflection
Throughout this course we have taken a look at many examples of how people have
worked hard to contribute to their society. We have seen people work through everything from
law to business to religion and everything in between. One of these contributions really stands
out to me as the most important, and that is politics. I do not think that any area has had as great
an influence as this one on society. Politics shapes everything around us. Our laws depend on it,
our military depends on it, and pretty much everything else we do depends on it. Politics is what
works to mark out the lines between what we can and cannot do. This is why if a person has
control of politics, they can be very influential in society. And if you get a good leader, they can
use politics to do a great amount of good for the society. Those paired together can greatly
influence a person to pursue a career in politics to better their country and contribute to the
wellbeing of society.
One example of such use of politics is with King Minos. He used his influence to keep
control over Athens by having seven of the best and most noble youths and seven of the finest
and most virtuous maidens every year be thrown in with the minotaur to be eaten (Mark). This
no doubt helped to protect the country from rises against Athens, but it also helped to keep the
citizens obedient. Nothing quite makes people obey rules like the threat of impending death. And
though that is harsh, it means that society is following the laws laid out for it. William McNeill
states in Why Study History? that institutions that govern a great deal of our everyday behavior

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took shape hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Having been preserved and altered across
the generations to our own time, they are sure to continue into the future. The United States
government is such an institution (McNeill). The United States even has a system similar to that
of the Minoans yet. Though you will not get eaten, you can be put to death still depending on the
severity of your crime.
Another example of exceptional use of politics is Philip II of Macedon. He used his
knowledge of society and politics to increase the army as well as make it more efficient. With his
powerful army now, Philip was able to conquer a great amount of land and rule increasing
amounts of people. In fact, it was even said that had he conquered Persia the only thing left for
him would be to become a god (Philip of Macedon). This approach to ruling still occurs today.
Countries conquer other countries to gain more land and subjects and to make them more
powerful. Michael Postma states that history provides us with a format to develop the
meaningful interpretations necessary to examine the events that shape modern society (Postma).
With this format, the conquerors look to the past to see what works and what does not work so
that they can be more effective and efficient.
The final example of how politics can help us be better citizens is with Julius Caesar.
Caesar ruled during the Roman Republic and was brought to power using one of the most
important areas of politics, elections. Even though he was a controversial figure, he was still
favored among the people enough for them to elect him, and he used his sway in politics later in
his ruling to end the civil war as well as reformed the Roman calendar, tackled local
government, resettled veterans into new cities, made the Senate more representative and granted
citizenship to many more foreigners which all benefitted the citizens (Julius Caesar). Voting for
those in office is one of the most important areas in politics. It determines the way that a society

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is going to be ran which will determine the quality of life for citizens. This kind of democratic
tradition that permeates modern American and European life is so important to the United
States, especially right now with elections coming up (Perry). We need to look at our history and
see what kind of ruler, what kind of politics will be the best for our society based on what we
have already experienced.
I have learned through these examples that politics is a very important part of society, but
I also learned that you dont necessarily have to be a super important person to have influence in
that. One of the easiest ways that we can influence society is by voting. By voting we are
choosing to support someone that we think will be good for our country and that can make
changes that will be good for everyone here.

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Works Cited:
"Julius Caesar." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2016.
Mark, Joshua J. "Theseus and the Minotaur: More than a Myth?" Ancient History Encyclopedia.
N.p., 18 Feb. 2011. Web. 15 Aug. 2016.
McNeill, William H. "Why Study History? (1985)." Why Study History? (1985). N.p., 1985.
Web. 15 Aug. 2016.
Perry, David M. "How History Can Help Us Predict the Next Pope." The Atlantic. Atlantic
Media Company, 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Aug. 2016.
"Philip II of Macedon." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2016.
Potsma, Michael. "What Can History Teach Us Today?" ASCD Express 6.22 -. N.p., 2011. Web.
15 Aug. 2016.