New Forum Game - Alternate History

[Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

So this game will entail with the person asking what history would be like if a certain aspect would change. The next person answers it, however they like. They can then ask their own question.

I'll start.

What if Hitler was a good guy?

[miniboes]

Interesting idea.

What if Hitler was a good guy?

I don't think the second world war would necessarily have been avoided if he was. An important reason there's been peace in Europe ever since WW2 is the 'nothing like this again, ever' attitude of all Europeans, leading to or resulting from huge interdependence between European countries. We could've seen Hitler and other European leaders declaring war on Mussolini to get rid of Italian fascism.

My guess of what would've happened is this: Hitler leads Germany into an economic boom, resulting in a German dominance over the European economy even greater than it is now. He realizes the horror of the first world war and initiates European collaboration. Churchill is not re-elected to a second term because he lacks the prestige that comes with leading a nation in war time. Instead, he's just a guy too old for office. Instead, the UK is steered more towards the left by the labour party. The USA and Soviet Union have to give way to a third power, the European Union, stronger than it is in our timeline; it never had to endure the second world war and never had to be reliant on US aid. Because the EU is so strong, the US and EU are confident enough to declare war on the Soviet Union as soon as it threatens to produce nuclear weapons. This is the new WWII, and ends in the US dropping nukes on a few key Russian cities. Japan never industrializes to be one of the great nations, because it doesn't get the US aid it got after WW2. The soviet union is split up into various small (European-sized) countries that are guided into westernization. A clear divide appears between a rich and free North and a poor and authoritarian South.

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I've heard a guy in ancient Greece almost invented the steam engine, but gave up. What if the steam engine was invented in Athens, year -400 (400 B.C.)?

[PsYcHo]

This seems interesting Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nice.

And Miniboes proposed an excellent premise. I'm too tired to play, but I think this is worth bumping.

[brimstoneSalad]

I've heard a guy in ancient Greece almost invented the steam engine, but gave up. What if the steam engine was invented in Athens, year -400 (400 B.C.)?

Without the details of exactly where and when, to look at the politics of the specific region and time, it's hard to say much.

In general, Greeks probably would have held back Roman attacks, starting with Sparta and later at Corinth (or attacks never would have reached that level, with Romans fully subdued).
The City-state would have been the dominant power, and trade might have spread pretty quickly to all corners of Eurasia and Africa and the more quickly discovered new world by steam boat.

Biggest differences would come down to the differences between Greek and Roman culture (although these are generalizations).

http://www.historynet.com/major-differe ... ulture.htm

Although both places had agricultural economies that exported wheat, olive oil and wine, Athens built its power by sea trade, whereas Rome was more predatory, growing by conquest. Greek governments varied from kings and oligarchs to the totalitarian, racist, warrior culture of Sparta and the direct democracy of Athens, whereas Roman kings gave way to a representative, elected republic—until it was displaced by the power of the emperors. Athenian citizens could all vote, but Athenian women were not citizens, whereas in Rome they were. Athens was the center of Greece’s Golden Age around 500–300 BCE, whereas Rome’s came in the last century of the Republic and in the first century or two of the Empire.

Obviously Alexander the Great was quite a conqueror, but then this may have been after the supposed invention and merchants may have precluded his reign and conquest from ever happening.

It's hard to guess what happens when you put transportation and industrialization before the gun. Mostly good things, I imagine. It probably means walls stand through the industrial revolution and that local authority would be very strong.

Probably more city states (which was already Greek inclination) and capitalism, less centralized republic, which would mean local rebellions would often go uncrushed by larger regional powers aiding democracy and some form of socialism to become prominent far earlier (Athenian tradition would catch on very easily).

Due to the extent of trade, and the capacity to develop more industry, the middle ages might have been skipped. Christianity and Islam would never have come about or spread, given their roots in poverty and tribal warfare.

That's an optimistic view, anyway. If somebody like Alexander was in power in the time and place of the invention, it could have been very different. Still, though, transportation and industry preceding guns and cannons is probably a good thing.


What if Lincoln lost the election?

[Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

This seems interesting Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nice.

And Miniboes proposed an excellent premise. I'm too tired to play, but I think this is worth bumping.

Don't be so silly! My name is not that long!

[Red]

What if Lincoln lost the election?

Alright, after a bit of thinking, I think I know.

Lincoln will not be able to act on slavery because he has no power and will probably try to run for president again the following election, and the civil war would be postponed to a later date, that is, if it ever comes. Douglas would not have preserved the Union, meaning that the Confederates won't have to break away from the US, due to no real disagreement, possibly prolonging slavery.. Not to mention he allowed the states to choose if they wanted to keep slaves or not, so states in the North could have returned to Slavery if they wanted to.

And I'm not sure what would happen to the economy, since Lincoln helped modernize it.

Slavery probably will be abolished by itself in time, whether it be a lack of practicality due to more technology, moral realizations, or maybe another civil war. But I'm pretty sure it holds us back from advancing faster.

That's my best guess.

What if Newton was never born?

[EquALLity]

I don't know anything about Newtom besides that he's an important scientist... Can someone else take that?^

[EquALLity]

What if Lincoln lost the election?

Alright, after a bit of thinking, I think I know.

Lincoln will not be able to act on slavery because he has no power and will probably try to run for president again the following election, and the civil war would be postponed to a later date, that is, if it ever comes. Douglas would not have preserved the Union, meaning that the Confederates won't have to break away from the US, due to no real disagreement, possibly prolonging slavery.. Not to mention he allowed the states to choose if they wanted to keep slaves or not, so states in the North could have returned to Slavery if they wanted to.

And I'm not sure what would happen to the economy, since Lincoln helped modernize it.

Slavery probably will be abolished by itself in time, whether it be a lack of practicality due to more technology, moral realizations, or maybe another civil war. But I'm pretty sure it holds us back from advancing faster.

That's my best guess.

What if Newton was never born?

Ok, fine.
Let's see... Newton created the three laws of motion. Well, if Newton was never born, somebody else would have probably discovered gravity and the three laws of motion. So, it would've happened later... *shrugs* Sorry, this wasn't that eventful.
What do you think would've happened?

What if the Central Powers won World War One?

[Duma]

If The Central Powers won World War I, then my guess is that Europe would have stayed uninformed and imperial for a lot longer.



What if Mountain Dew listened to the internet contest and made a line of soda called "Hitler Did Nothing Wrong"?

[Red]

That would be awesome and SJWs would be triggered.
What if humans never mistreated animals when it wasn't necessary?