How would you change history?

[Dan Diffendale]

Maybe I'd have tripped the centurion who happened to say "stay here" as the Senate was debating whether to move to Veii after the Gallic sack.

Then we'd be Veientine Army Talk, and we'd be rich from levying our VAT.
:roll:

[Jona Lendering]

Maybe I'd have tripped the centurion who happened to say "stay here" as the Senate was debating whether to move to Veii after the Gallic sack.

Then we'd be Veientine Army Talk, and we'd be rich from levying our VAT.
:roll:

[Sean Manning]

Given more time, introducing papermaking and the printing press could be interesting. But with only one hour, even assuming you know Greek and Latin and can pass for a Greek or a Roman, there isnt much you can do other than drop off something or kill someone. And killing someone rarely changes the course of history in major and predictable ways (see Archduke Franz Ferdinand for the unpredictable part).

The trouble with dropping off books would be getting something in Ancient Greek or Latin more recent than the Principia Mathematica.

I like the idea of picking up something funny and something important (Like Plutarch's Life of Epamaninodas, or any third century historian other than Polybius).

[Theodosius the Great]

there isnt much you can do other than drop off something or kill someone. And killing someone rarely changes the course of history in major and predictable ways

Yeah, who'da thought that killing Edith Keeler would ensure victory to the Allies in WWII ? Saving people from death may be worse. :wink:

~Theo

[Decius]

another idea: kill galba, otho, vittelius, vespasian, titus and domitian and become emperor.

[Tarbicus]

Leave a translated collection of Charles Darwin's, Stephen Hawkins' and Richard Dawkins' books on Marcus Aurelius' bed.

[CWyre]

The trouble with dropping off books would be getting something in Ancient Greek or Latin more recent than the Principia Mathematica.

There's latin & greek translations of the Harry potter books, might have an interesting effect on history...

[DanM]

BEAT UP BRUTUS! Then I'd give ceasar p-51s and b-17s! 8) Maybe even a Saturn V

[SOCL]

Visit a legion in the field and find out what color their tunics were!! :lol:

Of course, no one would believe me when I got back. :|

[Timotheus]

Well, I am going to drop a flag here and call foul.

1. Edited

3. Edited by Mod Staff.

Edited

Sorry but the idea of going back in history to eradicate two major religions is pretty offensive, let alone some of the other comments. I belong to one of the two mentioned religious organizations above and while I don't share the beliefs of the other, I certainly acknowledge its right to exist peacefully on this planet along with everyone else, and every other belief, and religion or even lack of belief at all. I still believe this after having witnessed religious extremism in many parts of the world where the level of cruelty and maliciousness seems to have no limit.

Hopefully the post will get pulled. Fun post and good idea orignally, now ruined.

Peace,
Mike

Then I guess we should never discuss how many other relgions those two major religions eradicated since they came along.

[Robert Vermaat]

Give Varus a good look at a 21st-c. historybook.. and also Valens!

[Timotheus]

Okay. So lets think of some new fun ones.


1. Give the Roman Consul the battle plan of Hannibal at Cannae.

2. Make sure the goat path at Thermopylae is properly covered and held at all cost.

3. Bribe the Ephors to say "Hell yeah!! Take the army and kick some ASS Leonidas!"

4. Deliver silk worms to Rome 500BC with full explanation of their value.

5. Find Augustus at the height of his power and explain to him the benefit of creating a very specific and logical sucession of power.

[Sean Manning]

Aren't we getting too ambitious here? As far as I know, none of us has a rocket which can reach orbit or the ability to make a bunch of ornery Spartan or Roman officers listen to us. Still, its a fun thread I like Robert's latest ideas.

[Decius]

another idea: make coins with my face on it and engrave "matthias wagner, ultral0rd of teh universe" and pass it to the public.

[SOCL]

How about steal a copy of Claudius' history of Carthage? Or give Leonidas and his boys three hundred AK-47s. :roll: Take a Roman helmet from a camp and bury it in North America, just to see the academics go crazy with that one. Or maybe leave graffiti at Pompeii that says "How ya doing?" the day before the eruption. :roll: