so you find yourself in 272 bc....

[Blxz]

don't forget: there is Animal poop(and worse) in drinking water today as well they just don't tell you.

I am interested in how the chinese managed to make soy sauce out of discarded human hair. Sure its disgusting and unhygenic now, especially when you consider all the menstrual blood they ended up finding in it before it the company maiking it was shut down, but could be a hell of a technology revolution for the future when we are all starving.

The legal tolerances for disgusting things in foods are scarily high, but it hasn't killed us all yet.

Edit: Also, all water in the world has gone through a set of kidneys or 2 before. Actually in any glass of water you are statistically likely to have at least 1 molecule that has been drunk by Julius Caesar in it. And for the Hellene lovers don't worry, there is also a pretty good chance that Megas Alexandros drank at least 1 of those molecules too.

[Andronikos]

now don't get me wrong, It's not like I greatly regret being born in this period of time. every period has it's pros and it's cons If I was to travel to the EB time I would enjoy It's pros and would not try to turn it into the time I came from. I just don't reckon it a good idea to import modern technology into the past.

One of the best features of our age is that if you live in some developed country, neirther authorities, nor social situation force you to live in some way. I you like nature, you can live in some distant place in a quiet cottage, if you wish to make career and money, you can, if you enjoy crowds, you can go to a large city.

I like your idea of seeking some untouched place in that period. But if had chance to travel to past, I would seek people. The eastern part of Hellenic world would be nice as was mentioned before, that interesting clash of cultures. But I would also like to unravel some mysteries (just of curiosity), to see for example building of Stonehenge, destruction of Minoan civilasation, why was Teotihuacan abndoned...


For Hellenic / Roman lovers: in every glass of water that that silly Roman / Hellenic lover drinks is at least 1 molecule that Alexandros / Caesar peed. (no offence; no flamewar please)

[antisocialmunky]

Considering that people willingly put worst stuff in their mouths and cups. I don't really think its so bad that food is 100% sanitized. -_-'

[KingDeath]

I try to smuggle a bunch of acricultural books with me, introduce windmills, new plows
and such stuff. Simply because acriculture was the base of every civilication until the industrial revolution ( except perhaps the italien merchant cities, but even that is debatable ) and therefore the ability to create more food = more people = more wealth = more power.

Then i conquer the world.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Edit: Also, all water in the world has gone through a set of kidneys or 2 before. Actually in any glass of water you are statistically likely to have at least 1 molecule that has been drunk by Julius Caesar in it. And for the Hellene lovers don't worry, there is also a pretty good chance that Megas Alexandros drank at least 1 of those molecules too.

I will clone Megas Alexandros with the DNA that I find in the water in my kitchen then. Then I will conquer the present day world exploiting his military genius.

[Whatever Scortamareva]

The legal tolerances for disgusting things in foods are scarily high, but it hasn't killed us all yet.

Yeah, I heard they actually make legal restrictions on food toxicity so high that we'll all be killed by acid eroding our internal organs and the chinese will take over.

I know it's true, a scientist (well his title was dr, he may have been a fitness therapist) said so.

EDIT: ah sorry that sounds incredibly over cynical, didn't mean to be offensive, i was having a bad day

[Aemilius Paulus]

I will clone Megas Alexandros with the DNA that I find in the water in my kitchen then. Then I will conquer the present day world exploiting his military genius.

Too bad most of today's biologists-researchers agree that human chromosomes are so immensely difficult to replicate that cloning humans is either an enterprise for the far future or altogether impossible. I am more inclined to believe the former, as men of learning repudiated many things that now exist. In any case, scientific opinion is infinitely more valuable than mine.

And speaking of the molecule thing, that is horse-sheisse. Poor science there. Too much bloody water on this wet planet fro that to happen. The chances are small. Iskander lived a much shorter life than Caesar. Then again, he drank like ten Makedonians, which would equal about fifty Romans... No wonder the real Greeks looked down on Makedonians. No truly cultured person would do such thing to himself.

I have read more than I care about Alexandros, and most of his aspects, mainly in the end of his life, were quite horrendous and repugnant. He started out quite well though, but the inhumanly cruel and lengthy fighting in Central Asia, with those guerrillas moved something in his head (a Russian expression meaning he went a bit crazy), as much of his entourage noted.

[Azathoth]

don't forget: there is Animal poop(and worse) in drinking water today as well they just don't tell you.

Except it's filtered. And a few parts per trillion of anything don't bother me.

have read more than I care about Alexandros, and most of his aspects, mainly in the end of his life, were quite horrendous and repugnant. He started out quite well though, but the inhumanly cruel and lengthy fighting in Central Asia, with those guerrillas moved something in his head (a Russian expression meaning he went a bit crazy), as much of his entourage noted.

He was just a megalomaniac - nothing crazy about that.

[Aemilius Paulus]

He was just a megalomaniac - nothing crazy about that.

Oh no, it was far, far worse. More like a psychopath with stunningly shocking authoritarianism in the end. Just read any good biography of him. In the Footsteps of Alexander by Michael Wood is a good beginner.

[miotas]

Then again, he drank like ten Makedonians, which would equal about fifty Romans... No wonder the real Greeks looked down on Makedonians. No truly cultured person would do such thing to himself.

Pfft. Who needs culture. I know! Maybe I'd head to makedonia and see how good their grog was.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Maybe I'd head to makedonia and see how good their grog was.

Pfft, got to my native Russia. Vodka is four times more effective, but without the coarse, sickly-sweet taste of the thick Makedonian wine. That stuff was mass-produced for binge-drinking, and not for its taste, so some odd connoisseur would come and savour its "goodness". Plus, after four cups of that unmixed wine, you will no longer care about the taste. Nor about anything else. That is the beauty of alcoholism.

[Azathoth]

Oh no, it was far, far worse. More like a psychopath with stunningly shocking authoritarianism in the end. Just read any good biography of him. In the Footsteps of Alexander by Michael Wood is a good beginner.

Really, is it that difficult to tell when I'm joking? Megalomania and delusions of grandeur (godhood) are often a symptom of mental illness (call it psychosis), and with a clown thrown in it's simply inexcusable.

You--> <--Me

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

JK lol

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Pfft, got to my native Russia. Vodka is four times more effective, but without the coarse, sickly-sweet taste of the thick Makedonian wine. That stuff was mass-produced for binge-drinking, and not for its taste, so some odd connoisseur would come and savour its "goodness". Plus, after four cups of that unmixed wine, you will no longer care about the taste. Nor about anything else. That is the beauty of alcoholism.

So you want to make us believe the Russians drink Vodka for its taste?

Anyways, you do know the average dying age for a Russian male is 59 (fifty-nine!)?

[Whatever Scortamareva]

So you want to make us believe the Russians drink Vodka for its taste?

Anyways, you do know the average dying age for a Russian male is 59 (fifty-nine!)?

In part due to the highest murder rate in Europe (for a country)

[Aemilius Paulus]

So you want to make us believe the Russians drink Vodka for its taste?

Of course not. I was saying it is best to drink vodka, which is pure spirits and water, without any flavour (if it has a flavour, EU does not recognise it as vodka anymore) than the disgusting Makedonian wine, and vodka will bring you to the goal of Makedonian alcohol orgies much faster with less nastiness.

[antisocialmunky]

You could kidnap one of Alexander's kids. History didn't miss them much.

[Aemilius Paulus]

But why? Genetics do not have much effect on person's psyche anyway, and especially since his children were diluted by Roxanne's genes. Environment can produce a genius out of an average child. Smart parents producing smart children is mainly a sign of the smart environment created by the smart parents.

[Andros Antonius]

Hmm.. If I got to go back in ancient or medieval times, I wouldn't want to go to some isolated wilderness, because I can still find the same thing today pretty much. I'd want to be in a thriving city or center or culture. But the only problem would be travel. I'd want to see much of the world, including villages in the countryside, but it just took so long to get from town to town compared to today. So I guess you have to pick somewhere good because you'll probably be staying there for a while. I'd pick the nomad option though and try to finish a tour of Europe and the Mediterranean, and maybe follow the Silk Road to China if possible in a lifetime. I would only try to change the past with some crazy technology if it affected an alternate timeline and not our own. Who knows what might happen then.

Yeah but about those Roman cups, I'd also be worried about the lead in addition to all the other nasty stuff they had in their drinks back then.

Ha, and I'm not surprised about those Russians and their average life expectancy lol.

[antisocialmunky]

But why? Genetics do not have much effect on person's psyche anyway, and especially since his children were diluted by Roxanne's genes. Environment can produce a genius out of an average child. Smart parents producing smart children is mainly a sign of the smart environment created by the smart parents.

The Pashtun people have been holding off better armed armies since the dawn of civilization. That's not a bad trade. Maybe it would have replaced the unhealthy drinking part of Alexander.

And if by smart you mean alcoholic and overbearing... Sure, whatever. Just remember to kidnap someone from the Platonic school of thought and give him a cave to teach the kid in or however you want to Boys From Brazil this.

[Andronikos]

Iskander lived a much shorter life than Caesar. Then again, he drank like ten Makedonians, which would equal about fifty Romans... No wonder the real Greeks looked down on Makedonians. No truly cultured person would do such thing to himself.

It's hard to be a king.

Were the Makedonian orgias worse than Roman ones during imperial era? You know, vomitoria, gladiators killing each other before feasting audience and much more.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And speaking of the molecule thing, that is horse-sheisse. Poor science there. Too much bloody water on this wet planet fro that to happen.

Are you speaking about the probability of finding a molecule of water that was drunk by some special person in your glass? Well, it's quite easy math. The number of water molecules on The Earth is approx. 10^45, just calculate the number of molecules drunk by one person during life, number of molecules in one cup and how many cups do you have to drink to find one. The only mumbojumbo there is that you assume that the water has perfectly mixed since being drunk by that person.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

If I would find myself in 272 BC I would ...

.. learn languages(Greek and Latin most likely) first few years in some small town. Then probably would move to Syracuse and warn Archimedes to get out of the city before the Romans come. Once that done I would head to Byzantion and try to take control. Would probably make some reforms and introduce new technologies(not gunpowder). If I can keep mayor powers and barbarian hordes away from the city then I guess after ten-twenty years I would have enough power to start my world conquest!

[Skullheadhq]

If I would find myself in 272 BC I would ...

.. learn languages(Greek and Latin most likely) first few years in some small town. Then probably would move to Syracuse and warn Archimedes to get out of the city before the Romans come. Once that done I would head to Byzantion and try to take control. Would probably make some reforms and introduce new technologies(not gunpowder). If I can keep mayor powers and barbarian hordes away from the city then I guess after ten-twenty years I would have enough power to start my world conquest!

muhahaha, why does everyone targets world conquest, I'd just go to Germania!
Cape Cervesiam!

[Moros]

I'd spend my days growing frankincense in Hadramawt. That and counting my gold.

[antisocialmunky]

How many wives would you get Moros?

[lionhard]

id like to roam the forests of sweboz and shag loads of blond hairy germans women and then use my knowledge i have now to destory the northern roman empire because they did nothing but make people suffer. I would then take rome for my self after recruiting a large army from the north and training them to better standards than the romans lolz :)

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Umm.. There was Northern Roman Empire in history??

[Aemilius Paulus]

destory the northern roman empire because they did nothing but make people suffer.

Uh-huh. And the German barbarians always sacked with care, killing, looting, and raping only the rich and bad, leaving the honest folk aside. Yeah. Right. Ssuuuuurrree.

[Whatever Scortamareva]

I'd spend my days growing frankincense in Hadramawt.

or nutmeg.

[bobbin]

And speaking of the molecule thing, that is horse-sheisse. Poor science there. Too much bloody water on this wet planet fro that to happen. The chances are small. Iskander lived a much shorter life than Caesar. Then again, he drank like ten Makedonians, which would equal about fifty Romans... No wonder the real Greeks looked down on Makedonians. No truly cultured person would do such thing to himself.

Are you speaking about the probability of finding a molecule of water that was drunk by some special person in your glass? Well, it's quite easy math. The number of water molecules on The Earth is approx. 10^45, just calculate the number of molecules drunk by one person during life, number of molecules in one cup and how many cups do you have to drink to find one. The only mumbojumbo there is that you assume that the water has perfectly mixed since being drunk by that person.

Believe it or not you would drink 861729 molecules of water a day that were once consumed by Alexander the Great.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

1.36*10^21 litres of water in the world

Alexander lived for 12013 days ( 20 July 356 BC to 10 June 323 BC)

assuming 3 litres per day was consumed on average gives 36039 litres

Then over his lifetime he consumed 3.9065*10^26 molecules (from FM of water = 18g and avagadro's number)

That gives 287243 molecules per litre. Now multiply by average daily consumption (3 litres)

Gives 861729 molecules per day.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Then over his lifetime he consumed 3.9065*10^26 molecules (from FM of water = 18g and avagadro's number)

That gives 287243 molecules per litre. Now multiply by average daily consumption (3 litres)

Gives 861729 molecules per day.

Yes, I know the mathematics too. So what? Too much hydrates in this world anyway. You large numbers may impress a random person, but anyone who sets aside more thought to this will see the folly. And no, I am sure as hell not going to prove my counter-point with a calculation to determine the quantity of molecules on Earth. The scientific notation will render it far too abstract to have a use in a practical, common argument anyway.