The Pages Of History by Donald Smith

Professor David K. Woodroof
English 122
22 June 2011

The Pages of History

I have often contemplated about what makes something important enough to be recorded on the pages of history. History is only as accurate as the scribes that laid down its foundation and the editors that decided what was important enough to be retained. People possibly for their brilliance or horrendous acts, inventions or monumental events that may have changed the world are recorded for posterity. Editors have the difficult task of sifting through mountains of historical recordings, selecting the most significant and compiling them accordingly into anthologies or independent volumes. Over the centuries some items have remained while others have faded from history’s pages. In many instances those items that made it past the editor’s pen shall remain among the pages of history for eternity. As an example, if I were to mention Thomas Edison, one would immediately think of the electric light bulb. Others are forever enshrined in history for their brilliant minds: Newton; Galileo; Michelangelo; Da Vinci; or Hitler and the Nazis for their infamous acts. Not limited to people, events such as the discovery of the new world, the Battle of Gettysburg, and the rise and fall of the Roman Empire have made past the editors. Many rightly deserve their places in the annals of recorded time but some have elevated or cemented themselves on history’s pages by their untimely demise. Socrates was a Greek philosopher whose way of life, character, and thought exerted a profound influence on ancient and modern philosophy. (Socrates) His beliefs were put to the ultimate test in 399BC. He was put on trial in Athens for refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state and introducing new divinities and corrupting the youth. (Linder)