The phrase "had a place in" is often used to indicate that something or someone was important in a certain situation or context. There are several synonyms for this phrase that can be used interchangeably, depending on the context. One possible alternative is "played a role in," which suggests that something or someone had an impact on a particular outcome or event. Another synonym is "featured prominently in," which emphasizes the significance of something or someone in a particular context. Other possible synonyms include "contributed to," "figured into," "had a hand in," and "was instrumental in." Each of these phrases can be used to convey the idea that something or someone was influential or central to a given situation.