If you could alter the course of history...

[Techno-Druid]

Say you're given the ability to travel to an alternate universe identical to our own (ala WoD) at any point in human history with the ability to alter the course of history almost however you want. What would you do and why?

I would go back a 1,000 and introduce European domesticated animals to North America, just to see how the various civilizations and cultures would manage to develop with horses and sheep and others by the year 1492. Whether or not certain parts would be societally comparable to Europe and Asia.

[Stelio Kontos]

Prevent the Fourth Crusade and sacking of Constantinople by westerners in 1204. That in turn would have ensured the nightmare of the Ottoman conquest and enslavement of the Balkans never happened. Would have been interesting considering some fields of technology had gotten quite advanced prior to 1204 in the Byzantine Empire. Would have liked to have seen if industrialization could have occurred sooner and in a region separate from where it did in our history.

[kasuke06]

Go back to the times various "magic" swords and other weapons were "lost". make a collection.

[endersblade]

Relevant:


Stifle Christianity before it could start. I would of course do research first to know what exactly I would need to do. The sheer magnitude of what this would do to the future, I can't even imagine.

Convince Wernher Von Braun to give up his dream of space and rocketry. Then see if NASA ever becomes a thing.

Kill Hitler's parents when he's a small child and raise him as his godfather. The man was brilliant but way out in left field.

Do whatever I could to prevent the Library of Alexandria from going up in flames.

Introduce Metallurgy to various cultures much, much sooner than when they discover it.

Take a current-gen CPU to Charles Ranlett Flint (Founder of IBM) with detailed diagrams and such to eventually kick-start the Information Age much sooner.

Take a gen-1 iPod to the guys that started up Apple.

Convince the Leader of Japan during WWII to NOT hit Pearl Harbor. I wonder how WWII would've gone had the US not joined, or joined much later.

Prevent the Titanic from sinking.

[Enthusiastic Steward]

Say you're given the ability to travel to an alternate universe identical to our own (ala WoD) at any point in human history with the ability to alter the course of history almost however you want. What would you do and why?

I would go back a 1,000 and introduce European domesticated animals to North America, just to see how the various civilizations and cultures would manage to develop with horses and sheep and others by the year 1492. Whether or not certain parts would be societally comparable to Europe and Asia.

Better would be to expose them to western diseases and see how the colonization of the new world plays out when the native population isn't decimated by illness.

Stifle Christianity before it could start. I would of course do research first to know what exactly I would need to do. The sheer magnitude of what this would do to the future, I can't even imagine.

Are you trying to get rid of organized religion or do you want to see what the world would look like if the Roman (and by extension Greek) pantheon still dominated?

[cuafpr]

Short term go back and find away to change things so I was still on active duty, part of which would be ensuring Obama was never president.

WWII is an obvious thought to stop but so much tech came from it not sure if its the right thing to do.

I would save the library of alexandria though.

[Deleted]

When some computer told the general in the Vietnam war that a nuke was not economic reasonable. Would change that, open nukes for everyday.

[SinR]

go back in time and tell my dad to invest in IBM and Apple, and *NEVER* touch them. then catch up with him later, cash out, convert to tangible goods, come back to our universe.

[Felaris Stormrage]

I'd bring modern technology to Africa prior to colonizers visiting and make a real life Wakanda.

[Theodarzna]

Say you're given the ability to travel to an alternate universe identical to our own (ala WoD) at any point in human history with the ability to alter the course of history almost however you want. What would you do and why?

I would go back a 1,000 and introduce European domesticated animals to North America, just to see how the various civilizations and cultures would manage to develop with horses and sheep and others by the year 1492. Whether or not certain parts would be societally comparable to Europe and Asia.

My idea would only work if I had access to Westworld quality robots to take back with me as a small army.

Blue face paint and knowledge of black powder weapons. Conquer Britain circa 450-500 CE and at least keep Germanic languages confined to the mainland.

[Independent voter]

If Hitler never came to power than all those European Jews would still be in Europe and not Palestine. Israel wouldn't be a country, the Middle East would be a lot more stable.

[igualitarist]

Better would be to expose them to western diseases and see how the colonization of the new world plays out when the native population isn't decimated by illness.


Are you trying to get rid of organized religion or do you want to see what the world would look like if the Roman (and by extension Greek) pantheon still dominated?

Probably slavery ideals would last for much longer, considering Christian faith (not the church) is against slavery since its conception, being one of the earliest voices in history advocating we are all equal and to break the perception that slavery is just the natural way to go. Also, probably Europe, and thus, the western world, would be using burkas right now, reading the quoran, praying to Allah, stoning gays and raped women.

And yep, i am an atheist. But if i look to Jesus Christ as a philosopher instead of a prophet, i can admire him. In this sense, it does not even matter if he really existed, just like it does not matter if Plato really existed. What matter are the ideals, and he pretty much broke the ancient world with ideals of equality.

[Enthusiastic Steward]

Probably slavery ideals would last for much longer, considering Christian faith (not the church) is against slavery since its conception, being one of the earliest voices in history advocating we are all equal and to break the perception that slavery is just the natural way to go. Also, probably Europe, and thus, the western world, would be using burkas right now, reading the quoran, praying to Allah, stoning gays and raped women.

Except without Christianity there would be no Islam as it exists today, as Islam grew out of Christianity as Christianity grew out of Judaism. All three Abrahamic religions share a common origin and though by different names pray to the same God. More likely would be the Pantheon vs Zoroastrianism. Even better would be the Pantheon vs the gods of ancient Egypt.

[Moralgy]

Tbh i wouldnt touch massive things because i dont wanna accidently cause hitler to win ww2 kinda things due to the ripple effect.

I would just go back in time and try to save a close friend’s life if i could.

[Dug]

I ain't a historian but whatever fucky stuff that caused the middle east to be so unstable. And y'know the nazi's not doing what they did

[endersblade]

Are you trying to get rid of organized religion or do you want to see what the world would look like if the Roman (and by extension Greek) pantheon still dominated?

Mostly just Christianity, but as a non-practicing Pagan, I certainly wouldn't mind if Pagan religions took over like Christianity did. Again this is a 'just to see' situation.

Keep in mind that it wasn't technically Christianity that brought down Greece. All of the North religions would never have been stifled, the Vikings wouldn't have any churches to pillage...I'll stop. Like I mentioned there is just too much to comment on with such a large change to history. We can't even say that the Dark Ages would never happen, who knows. Christianity became such a large driving force on history that I want to see what the world would do without it.

[SinR]

Tbh i wouldnt touch massive things because i dont wanna accidently cause hitler to win ww2 kinda things due to the ripple effect.

This is being played out in an alternate universe thingy where it would have no effect on what has happened. unfortunately for your example its a double edged sword. Sure Hitler might win WWII but not on our timeline. Unfortunately... you'd only see how saving your friends life would have played out.

[igualitarist]

Except without Christianity there would be no Islam as it exists today. More likely would be the Pantheon vs Zoroastrianism. Even better would be the Pantheon vs the gods of ancient Egypt.

I am not sure if the muslim faith would not exist without Jesus Christ. Yes, i am aware he is one of the prophets of the muslim faith, but Mohammed would still come to life. Probably the most notable difference is that the muslim faith would be more influenced by the Torah than what it was. But thats just speculation...

[Stormdash]

Get Marx a job and laid before he ever meets Engels. That would have saved well over 100 million lives and probably trillions in lost global economic growth.

[Realitytrembles]

Arabia, in the late 570s AD , and kill a certain person in his infancy, thus ending a certain tyrannical philosophy before it starts.

I can't say which one on this far-Left echo chamber of a site, or I'll get infracted.