A blast from the past

[CrazyGuy]

Just a quick, stupid discussion but...
If you could live in any era, any time, anywhere where would it be, and why?

Just to clarify, this won't be living as a disease-ridden peasant but you were somehow transported back to this land for good while maintaining the abilities you possess now. Also, for the sake of argument subsistence is provided but you are still mortal.

As an example I would choose to live in Britain in the dark, dark ages immediately after the Legions left. There were many things wrong this time. But I remember reading a description that what we know of this time is the equivalent of discovering the modern world through three men wandering around in the dark, men who didn't talk to each other! There is so much we don't know about this time that it fascinates me despite the hardship associated with the era. Plus, it would be kind of cool to be the only educated person around!

Something tells me that we might have wide range of responses on this one though!

[seireikhaan]

Hmm...

Honestly, a tough question for me.

However, if I had a gun to my head and had to say...somewhere on a farm, in some small village, in Tokugawa Japan. A simpler life indeed...

[Vorian]

If I understand correctly for some unknown magical reason we were transfered back in time?


Well, I would prefer to arrive in Constantinople or Rome, gain favor with some emperor by doing tricks ancient people wouldn't comprehend and use my superior knowledge and education to reach a place of status. A senator with a nice villa in Latium....with around 100 slaves tending my needs. This is life.

[Tristuskhan]

Australia before the Brits... Anytime between 80000 BC and 1700AD.

[TinCow]

Well, if I had to remain me, I wouldn't go anywhere. I'm Jewish and even with a high level of education and a lot of wealth we've rarely been better than second class citizens before the 20th century, and almost entirely excluded from political power.

Of course, if I could drop the Jewish aspect, I would very much like experience Republican Rome between 200BC and 100BC. Two other areas that very much interest me are Athens between 500BC and 350BC and London between 1800AD and 1900AD. All of these places appeal to me because of they were major centers of the world during their time and they were also a place where a wealthy and educated individual could really influence events, even if they were not nobly born. Nothing would please me more than to be able to debate in the Roman Senate.

[Beirut]

Europe. Late 1920s.

Sin and vice and wretched excess in abundance, all with a cool art deco ambiance.

Yeah baby.

[Viking]

If I understand correctly for some unknown magical reason we were transfered back in time?


Well, I would prefer to arrive in Constantinople or Rome, gain favor with some emperor by doing tricks ancient people wouldn't comprehend and use my superior knowledge and education to reach a place of status. A senator with a nice villa in Latium....with around 100 slaves tending my needs. This is life.

Great minds think alike! Not really, but you share the thoughts of a great mind anyway.

Rome it should be...yes Rome.

[Husar]

I'd prefer a time where people wear gothic armour but have healthcare and hygiene standards like today, isn't available I fear so I'll stay where I am, the middle ages are too smelly for my taste.

[Innocentius]

This is a tough one. Probably every place anywhere before the 20th century was so bad, smelled so bad, and was so full of hard work that any person accustomized to modern standards would breack down and crack from a combination of physichal exhaustion and self-disgust (you don't smell too good after working a few days on a farm without washing).

Considering this, I'd say an upper-class family in Rome or some city in northern Italy during the Pax Romana, or an upper-class family somewhere on the countryside in Britain during the 19th century. Maybe in Vienna during the early 19th century would be OK as well; while Beethoven was still alive. It would have been worth it.

Giving this less consideration, and just looking to what I'd like to try for the heck of it, I'd say "Sweden", mid-to-late 12th century. Beautiful countryside, not too many people around to bother you, and some interesting politics going on. That, and a lot of beer.

Edit: I'll actually throw in Moscow in the 1920-ies and 30-ies as well. I could live with the regime just to get a chance to speak with Bulgakov.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

Late Republican Rome, dangerous as all hell, but interesting!

Then I could support Octavian from the beginning, and reap the rewards when he wins!

[rajpoot]

England in the period after the Norman conquest, a Baron, a cavalier. A castle of my own, with a wide moor around it. A hundred stout men at arms at my command, a noble steed and a steel tipped lance, and a broadsword in my scabbard............the age of chivalry.

[I of the Storm]

Almoravid Spain, 11th century. Or Crusader Jerusalem. Or Alexandria before the library was burnt.
...
Yeah, I think I'll take the last one. Then I only need some food and I'll be busy there for the rest of my days.

[Paradox]

Go back to Greece and kill the fool who came up with the word "Saracen."

A better idea, force the Seljuks, Moghul, Egypt, Moors, and the Khanates to actually work together instead of biting each other's heads off against a united enemy. I'll use brute force if I have to, like supply an army with M16's and assault rifles,and maybe kill all the corrupt leaders that disagree.

[master of the puppets]

Ancient Egypt. Far as we know they were clean, well educated. They had some of the best architects and astrologers, doctors, and scribes. If i could gain a high enough position i may even be able to advise the pharoh.

"NO, NO your majesty, not stepped sides, Absolutely smooth, and 3 times bigger, it will last for eternity i assure you."

plus i would love to just freak out the entire world when the crack open my tomb and find artwork of about 100 future events. and some make believe **** just for the hell of it.

"And look there professor, no right next to the 7-47. I do believe that is a Alien shaking hands with a human!"

[Spartan198]

If I had all the knowledge I do now...
Sparta during the Greco-Persian Wars. I'd reform the Spartan army,impliment an improved cavalry force consisting of both light and heavy cavalry,make skirmishers a professional corps,create hypaspists to protect flanks,then I'd make use of Macedonian combined arms tactics to subjugate the entire Mediterranean to my will (laughing maniacally...).

Oh,and I'd put Epaminondas and the rest of those pesky Thebans to the sword.

[Furious Mental]

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I don't think ideas of wholesale reform (which with the benefit of hindsight we can see would have been a smart idea if anyone had proposed it for any Greek state) of the Spartan army would have been well received by the Spartans. Their military and in fact whole society was premised on their fighting as hoplites. The egalitarian elements of the country (egalitarian as between the Spartans, not vis-a-vis the helots) were a direct reflection of this. Something tells me that trying, at a stroke, to make them a combined arms force with professional and guards unit would have been futile.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Tough call. If I could bring back some modern items (like the computer, and the...well...ORG ), I'd take loads of cash and move to the Prussian estates, living the relatively comfortable life of a Junker in the 1860s/70s.

[Spartan198]

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I don't think ideas of wholesale reform (which with the benefit of hindsight we can see would have been a smart idea if anyone had proposed it for any Greek state) of the Spartan army would have been well received by the Spartans. Their military and in fact whole society was premised on their fighting as hoplites. The egalitarian elements of the country (egalitarian as between the Spartans, not vis-a-vis the helots) were a direct reflection of this. Something tells me that trying, at a stroke, to make them a combined arms force with professional and guards unit would have been futile.

Yeah,you're probably right. But I can still dream,can't I?