The historical record can be altered for a variety of reasons, including political purposes. Here are some examples: 1. **Dynastic Records**: Court historians would often modify or omit events in order to praise the ruling dynasty and instill loyalty. This can be seen in Chinese history books such as the Shiji or the Ming History. 2. **Monarch Biographies**: Biographies of rulers may be altered or fabricated to promote a positive image, cover up wrongdoing, or to sing the praises of a particular monarch for political purposes. 3. **Wars and Conquests**: History may be altered to make military actions seem more successful or justified, such as ancient Roman writings that often promoted the victories of Roman armies. 4. **Revolutions and Regime Change**: New ruling elites will often rewrite history to legitimize their own rise, condemn previous regimes, and redefine events to fit their ideology. 5. **Imperialism and Colonialism**: Colonial powers and empires often alter history to make their own rule seem benevolent, enlightened, or beneficial, while portraying conquered cultures as "barbaric" or "uncivilized." 6. **Nationalist narratives**: History may be altered to reinforce the legitimacy of a particular nation, highlighting past triumphs and achievements while downplaying or ignoring failures and regrets. 7. **Heroes and icons**: Historical figures, such as Alexander the Great or Napoleon Bonaparte, may be romanticized or mythologized to promote a positive image and cover up their flaws or faults. 8. **Dark Ages and War Crimes**: History may be altered to downplay or deny atrocities, such as the Holocaust, genocide, or slavery, or to conceal the culpability of the nation or leaders who committed them. 9. **Court intrigues and conspiracies**: History may be altered to cover up secret plots, assassinations, or other wrongdoings, or to conceal the involvement of rulers, as shown in the conspiracy to kill Caesar. 10. **Myths and legends**: History may be altered to present mythical or legendary events as facts, such as the Trojan War, or to promote a certain ideology or moral concept. Some notable historical accounts that may have been altered for political reasons include: * Chinese history in the Twenty-Five Histories, especially accounts of minority regimes, such as the Liao, Jin, or Yuan. * The history of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, where the biographies of the pharaohs were often erased, altered, or mythologized in order to promote their divine rule. * The history of the Soviet Union, especially regarding the Russian Revolution of 1917, Stalin's rule, and the Soviet Union's role in World War II. * The history of European colonialism, including the suppression of indigenous cultures, slavery, and the legacy of colonialism. * The history of Japan's response to World War II, including discussions of the Nanjing Massacre, comfort women, and war crimes. When dealing with historical accounts, it is important to take into account the historical context, the author's biases, and the ideology of the time in order to better understand the events of the period.