So you are transported back to the dark ages...
- Thread starter Smithburg
- Start date
This is a very grim situation for women. At best, anything I came up with would prolly be stolen by a man. :/
I wouldn't mind inventing a rail system and telegraphs, though. Oh, and convince people that soap and sewer systems are a really great idea.
Actually, can I go to Japan in this period? Daily bathing has been a longtime thing over there.
I wouldn't mind inventing a rail system and telegraphs, though. Oh, and convince people that soap and sewer systems are a really great idea.
Actually, can I go to Japan in this period? Daily bathing has been a longtime thing over there.
You make it sound as thought we are capable of memorising complex inventive ideas and convicing others to listen to the said ideas.
Assuming if I was sent back to Dark age British, the people in that time would want to burn me since I look different to them (being Chinese and all).
Even if I was sent to dark age China then I will still be treated differently since I speak the language properly at all.
Assuming if I was sent back to Dark age British, the people in that time would want to burn me since I look different to them (being Chinese and all).
Even if I was sent to dark age China then I will still be treated differently since I speak the language properly at all.
First off, I'd have the massive problem that they basically speak a different language. Have any of you read Chaucer? I might just about be able to understand the gist of what the say but they aren't going to have a hope of understanding 21st century English. It's too different.
Anyway, assuming that's not an issue, I have the problem that this is a feudal society, and as such I am a serf(and a shit one, since my skill set is skewed away from manual labour), since I'm clearly not a knight or part of the gentry. Therefore, I would have to fake piety and join a monastery, which gives me an excuse for being literate, and means I can't get swept up in any wars.
From then I would struggle to make any inventions, as I don't know how preceding inventions worked. Ie. I have no idea about the process of shaping glass or lenses, so I couldn't invent microscopes/telescopes except in a very crude format.
However, I would be well placed to revolutionise mathematics, beating Newton and Leibniz to calculus, inventing imaginary numbers , inventing Fourier series etc.
I could invent chemical batteries, unfortunately I have no idea how even a lightbulb works, so I couldn't actually do anything with this.
Best of all, i could invent the Sandwich, and be forever praised.
Anyway, assuming that's not an issue, I have the problem that this is a feudal society, and as such I am a serf(and a shit one, since my skill set is skewed away from manual labour), since I'm clearly not a knight or part of the gentry. Therefore, I would have to fake piety and join a monastery, which gives me an excuse for being literate, and means I can't get swept up in any wars.
From then I would struggle to make any inventions, as I don't know how preceding inventions worked. Ie. I have no idea about the process of shaping glass or lenses, so I couldn't invent microscopes/telescopes except in a very crude format.
However, I would be well placed to revolutionise mathematics, beating Newton and Leibniz to calculus, inventing imaginary numbers , inventing Fourier series etc.
I could invent chemical batteries, unfortunately I have no idea how even a lightbulb works, so I couldn't actually do anything with this.
Best of all, i could invent the Sandwich, and be forever praised.
That would depend on where you went to really. Surprisingly enough, men and women were fairly equal in Anglo-Saxon England. Obviously things weren't great, but they were better than they were in the medieval period.Erana said:
What? You mean you don't know in precise detail everything you're using on mostly a daily basis? Sheesh, people these days. And what did you intend to do when the apocalypse came and society and its achievements were reset back to 0? Did you plan to die? You'd better, because I won't be letting you borrow my computer made of tin cans and nuclear waste.Scarim Coral said:
OT: Me personally? I'll probably be able to make a PnP RPG. Sure, the illiteracy might be a bit of a problem, and there wouldn't be any convenient method of making big copies of it without a printing press, but I can manage.
I'm taking this as more of a question about how much you truly know about our daily technology. Assuming that whatever sent me back in time allows me to blend in to my surroundings. The first step big hurdle would be forming a network of people who can get you what you need. Having to develop everything literally from scratch is a huge endeavor. If I can get the help I need, I should be able to create a water wheel generator, or windmill and create electricity. Beyond simple lighting and heating, I doubt I could do much but even that is pretty good. Given enough time, I could probably make an electric car.
Basically this, plus there aren't many things I know how to invent with the tools they used at the time, so I would be out of luck.Hazy992 said:
Unless I manage to convince everyone I'm Jesus, and I'm wearing the clothing that they wear in heaven. Would totally work.
EDIT: I guess I could invent the very first gun, since I do have the knowledge how to make one of those. Oh, and I could name it "David" so everyone would use David's in war. And that name would never be given to any kid ever again.
After a bit more thought, I'd probably be better suited to using my skills in the kitchen to get by. It would take a bit to learn the local ingredients, but I bet I could create all sorts of food they have never seen before. As well, I would look to open trade routes and "explore" the world. Seeing as I already know where generally everyone is.
Dark Age would suck.I mean it was called the dark age for a reason.Anyway I think this article sums up how bad an idea it is
http://www.cracked.com/article_18564_6-time-travel-realities-doc-brown-didnt-warn-us-about.html
http://www.cracked.com/article_18564_6-time-travel-realities-doc-brown-didnt-warn-us-about.html
Or they'd think you were just some foreigner. Still, if you know a romance language (French/Spanish/Italian) or a little bit of Latin you could probably get by with some of that and learn more as you go along, because those languages haven't changed as much.Hazy992 said:
Can I be pedantic and ask which Dark Age?
Assuming you mean the Medieval Period, I'd probably go to Italy if possible. Probably do what I can to become a doctor. Knowing about sterility and inventing antibiotics would put you miles ahead of everyone.
I'd kick myself for not knowing more about how early spectroscopy worked though.
Or they'd think you were just some foreigner. Still, if you know a romance language (French/Spanish/Italian) or a little bit of Latin you could probably get by with some of that and learn more as you go along, because those languages haven't changed as much.Hazy992 said:
Can I be pedantic and ask which Dark Age?
Assuming you mean the Medieval Period, I'd probably go to Italy if possible. Probably do what I can to become a doctor. Knowing about sterility and inventing antibiotics would put you miles ahead of everyone.
I'd kick myself for not knowing more about how early spectroscopy worked though.
I don't think the language was that different, I mean if you read Chaucer sure it's spelled differently but most words seem to be pronounced the same way.
I don't think I'd ba able to do that much technologically since most technology I understand requires a supporting infrastructure that simply wasn't there. I would however be able to give them theoretical stuff like Calculus, relativity, Cartesian geometry, democracy, utilitarianism, evolution and atomic theory all a few centuries early.Oh and I'd write a book warning that Karl Marx's economics are a load of tosh, that should save a few million lives.
I don't think I'd ba able to do that much technologically since most technology I understand requires a supporting infrastructure that simply wasn't there. I would however be able to give them theoretical stuff like Calculus, relativity, Cartesian geometry, democracy, utilitarianism, evolution and atomic theory all a few centuries early.Oh and I'd write a book warning that Karl Marx's economics are a load of tosh, that should save a few million lives.
"I, Jesus, have returned. I've returned to teach you, the ways of 'The Dance'."Hazy992 said:If you can get the language down and play it right you could probably pull that off. They weren't the most inquisitive back thenDavid Bjur said:
"Do this, and there's no doubt that you will come to heaven."
I will have my own army of dancing zombie-peasants
Man the Dark Age peasants will eat that shit up! Gullible fools!David Bjur said:"I, Jesus, have returned. I've returned to teach you, the ways of 'The Dance'."Hazy992 said:If you can get the language down and play it right you could probably pull that off. They weren't the most inquisitive back thenDavid Bjur said:
"Do this, and there's no doubt that you will come to heaven."
I will have my own army of dancing zombie-peasants