I'm not sure whether a thread on alternative world-histories would be considered as sci-fi or pseudoscience--I guess it's a bit of both. Anyway, it's a staple food in the diet of sci-fi writers, so I've decided to put it here. This is the idea; people come up with a plot for a possible alternate line of history. To start the pot boiling, here's mine. What would have happened if the American colonies had, for any reason, remained as part of the British Empire?
I recently read a book about various military 'What If's'. One such incident links into your post. During the War for Independance, there was a stand-off between American and British forces (as they usually do, in a field, all lined up) but the Americans lost this battle and were in retreat. The British officer took a rifle and saw an American officer riding away on horseback. The British officer aimed at the american officer but decided not to shoot as it would have been dishonorable to "shoot the poor devil in the back". That American officer was no other than George Washington. What if that British officer had shot at him and killed him? Would the revolution have failed? Would the USA still only be a few states big having not won various states from the Spanish and the Louisiana purchase not taken place (although the British did supply the 15m for the purchase)? What would the USA be called today? Would it be similar to that Sliders episode?
There was actually a self-government proposal put forward by the American colonies (and presented to the British government by Ben Franklin) in 1754. (On July 4th of that year, of all days). Had that been accepted by the British Government, it's possible that the Revolution may never have taken place. On the other hand, the British outlawed slavery in 1807, and (in law, at least) got rid of it throughout the Empire in the 1820's. They would have been faced with a revolt of the southern states of their American empire if they had still controlled the western hemisphere. It's another good point you raised, too--what if Napolean had not needed to raise that money in order to renew war with the English in 1802? The Louisiana Purchase would never have taken place, and the name 'United States' could mean a collection of states hemmed in between the Atlantic shore and the Proclamation Line of 1763.
Here's another potential history-line. When Christopher Columbus wanted to explore westward to get to China, he approached the English and French kings before he spoke to Ferdinand and Isabella; F. and I. turned him down initially, and Columbus headed over towards Lisbon to talk to the King of Portugal. After Columbus left Madrid, F. and I. changed their minds and sent riders after him to bring Columbus back to Madrid. They caught up with Columbus on the border, as he was about to enter Portugal. Now, how would the history of the western hemisphere have been influenced if the the English, French or Portugese had been the sponsors of Columbus, and thus gained the rights of access to the South American continent, to the possible exclusion of the Spanish?
My favourites; what if the Library of Alexandria had never been burned? What if the Chinese had explored the world in 1424 rather than turning back for home and burning their boats?
A: We'd have a heck of a lot more information about ancient science and history than we have now, which may have promoted science to a great degree and (maybe) made the Dark Ages a little less murky Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! B: There's and argumant by one author ('1421: The Year the Chinese Discovered the World') that Admiral Zheng He did actually take more than just a short jaunt over to Africa. You're right, if the Chinese had exploited Zheng He's discoveries instead of going back into hibernation, they could have possibly built up a maritime empire covering the entire Indian/Pacific Oceans, and (taking the idea to its logical extremes) settled Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Also supplanted or co-operated with the Arab traders on the east coast of Africa. You could be looking at a world with China as a maritime trading superpower by, say, the beginning of the 17th Century at the latest. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
What if Jonas Salk never found the polio vaccine? What if the original Bible manuscripts had been lost? What if some african hadn't had sex with a monkey, and introduced AIDS to the world? What if Hitler hadn't fought a two-front war, and if America didn't enter? Or, what if Germany developed the bomb first? Or we lost every naval battle in the Pacific, or perhaps already knew about Pearl Harbor in advance? Or is 9-11 never happened? :m:
An interesting point that, the whole 'lost every battle in the pacific' one I mean. The Battle of Midway. No-one knows how the Americans won that confrontation. The battle has been played out in so many exercises and training scenarios and, reportedly, every time the Japanese have come out trumps. The fact that the Americans won that was purely a fluke. What if that fluke didn't favour the yanks? Midway would be in possession of the Japanese and Enola Gay may not have dropped the fabled Atomic Bomb.
Then Ben Browder wouldn't be the new member of SG-1 and someone less talented would be around for series 9.
Have you ever read the book "1984" by George Orwell. It tells of an alternate 1984. A world with three world powers, all of which have a Big Brother government. Very intresting. If you are intrested in the what-ifs, read this book. What if Einstein never came to America? What if he helped Germany? Ooo... scary.
in 988 AD, the Russian Tsar sent out ambassadors to the various teachers of the gret faiths, because he was thinking of abandoning paganism. What if the Russians had adopted any other faith than Orthodox Christianity? What if the Saxons had won the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD? If Boadicca of the Iceni had succeeded in driving the Romans out of Britain in 66 AD? If Rodrigo of the Visigoths had beaten the Moors in 711 AD? The Conspiracy of Pontiac had driven the English from Upper Canada? Alexander the Great had led his forces north/south/west instead of east?
Einstein was a Jew. When he tried to help Germany, they would have turned him into a lamp. Then America would have had to fight a real war against the Japanese, and lots of people on both sides would die. A lot of people would never have been born because their grandparents would have died, and I think we would have destroyed a lot of Japanese infrastructure, perhaps delaying the Japanese's advancement to the forefront in manufacturing.
What if we lose the war in Iraq? What if Reagan's spending broke the US economy before Russia's? What if 'Nam was a real war, not just a 'police action'?
How could we have lost in Iraq? First off, it wasn't a war, you need two armies for a war. The only way we could've lost is if the civilian population of the US and UK strongly oppossed the conflict and forced a 'Nam style withdrawal.
read Kim stanly Robinson - "Vinland the dream". That's a cool collection of alternativ histories, like one when the Enola Gays crew refused to bomb hiroshima - the captian was shot for treason, but he wasa matyr to pacifists + a campaign in his name made atom bombs illegal in thwe 1950s. Then, without the nuclear threat, world war 3 began in 1958.. nukes were rebuilt on both sides, and 100 milion people killed. another of those storys has Reagan losing the 1980 election.. Robinson thought the world today would be much beter !
"Have you ever read the book "1984" by George Orwell. It tells of an alternate 1984." That book was written in 1949, and was actually a prediction of the future. Imagine what would have happened to South American if the Spanish hadn't popped round.
