Individual Power

Much of our early discussions and papers for this semester discussed the roles and categories of power. Prior to these readings my paper on power had focused very much on the power of the individual. It was a rather narrow view that focused less on the impact of outside forces and more on the impact of internal choices. It was a rather one sided view point that seemed to have taken for granted the argument that humans are perhaps little more then the sum of their experiences.
The paper was also a very micro perspective that focused on the individual and not the world as a whole. The readings from this class definitely points to a broader perspective that individuals as part of a system are at times able to exploit others for personal advantage. It looks at how groups of people can be manipulated to do things that might otherwise seem illogical.
In conclusion, a look back is always helpful to understand where we have come from and what we have learned. This semester's study of power in the Ancient Middle East have definitely broadened my view of the world around me, and has specifically given me a greater understanding of military power and its role in the world, both past and present.