What would you change about history?

[Jochistan]

I'd help the Mali Empire discover the Americas.

Mansa Musa was pretty chill

I second this. make the empire waaaay more stable too.

[Yankee Commonwealth]

Give OJ Simpson a guilty verdict

[Conscentia]

A Hellenised Far East would be weird.

Actually, Buddhism was heavily influenced by the Hellenistic Baktrians in India. That's where we get the iconic Buddha statue from- Greek Buddhists.

Most of my interaction with Buddhism has been via Chinese Buddhism, so what I would refer to as the "iconic Buddha statue" is not the thin Indian Buddha you're probably referring to. Also, I don't consider India to be part of the "Far East". I was thinking Mongolia, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.

[Conscentia]

[...]In the Middle east, almost everybody fucking loses.

The Middle East (specifically, the fertile cresent) basically invented civilisation, so nope to that.

[Apollinis]

[...]In the Middle east, almost everybody fucking loses.

The Middle East (specifically, the fertile cresent) basically invented civilisation, so nope to that.

Well, AFAIK it was one of six places that "invented civilisation", along with Mesoamerica, Egypt, Peru, China and the Indus Valley.

[Jochistan]

[...]In the Middle east, almost everybody fucking loses.

The Middle East (specifically, the fertile cresent) basically invented civilisation, so nope to that.

almost, I said, Almost.
But, The Civilization they founded (Hammurabi, Sargon etc.) was profoundly legalistic and brutal.
The cradle of civilization's diapers were and are still major slipping hazards for most of the people and empires that dwelt there.

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

5th century AD: The Roman Empire conquers and Christianizes Arabia. No Islam. No Dark Ages. No ISIS. Better world.

The Dark Ages weren't caused by Islam or the Arabs. In-fact, the Islamic Golden Age helped end the Dark Ages in Europe when the work of the Golden Age Muslims was translated and disseminated through Europe. (It's due to this that we use "Arabic" numerals instead of Roman numerals.)
The Dark Ages were the result of the collapse of Western Rome.

The Dark Ages are at best a misnomer, and at worst a inaccurate untruth that needs to be slain like the vampire it is.

[Conscentia]

The Middle East (specifically, the fertile cresent) basically invented civilisation, so nope to that.

Well, AFAIK it was one of six places that "invented civilisation", along with Mesoamerica, Egypt, Peru, China and the Indus Valley.

Egypt is part of the fertile crescent, and the fertile crescent's civilisation is the descendent of all modern civilisation besides China's civilisation and it's descendent.

[Conscentia]

The Middle East (specifically, the fertile cresent) basically invented civilisation, so nope to that.

almost, I said, Almost.
But, The Civilization they founded (Hammurabi, Sargon etc.) was profoundly legalistic and brutal.
The cradle of civilization's diapers were and are still major slipping hazards for most of the people and empires that dwelt there.

Humanity was brutal in general, and legalism arises wherever there is law.

[Knokkeheist]

I would make sure that New Amsterdam is not traded for Suriname.

[Geilinor]

I would make sure that New Amsterdam is not traded for Suriname.

Why? A Caribbean colony made more money than the 13 Colonies combined.

[Trumpostan]

If I could change one thing in history, I would prevent Carter and Brzezinski getting the USA involved in Afghanistan, thus also preventing Reagan escalating the support for the religious conservative Mujahideen which led to the creation of Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Almost all of the senior figures involved in the 1993 and 2001 WTC attacks were veterans of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. So were the leaders of foreign contingents fighting for Chechnya against Russia and for Bosnia against the Croats and Serbs.

[Knokkeheist]

I would make sure that New Amsterdam is not traded for Suriname.

Why? A Caribbean colony made more money than the 13 Colonies combined.

I would be cool to see Americans speaking Dutch.

[Salus Maior]

That would end the Dark ages? Or anything like ISIS happening in the modern world?

You would still have ISIS-like groups. the only difference would be that they would be Christians.

In the Middle east, almost everybody fucking loses.

We've already got what is essentially "Christian ISIS", it's called the Westboro Baptist Church

[Neo Arcad]

I'd prevent the United States from annexing Texas in 1845.

By doing this, I'd prevent the slave states from gaining any more power, and have them stop their advance westward. They'd soon be outnumbered by a lot, as new free states entered the union. Meanwhile, there'd be no Mexican-American War, or at least it'd be smaller in scale. This would mean that all the combat veterans who went into the CSA's army wouldn't exist. These two factors would conspire to prevent in large measure the Civil War from coming to a head, due to the weaker nature of the South. Slavery would therefore be abolished by legislation rather than force of arms, and as a result, you would see less bitterness from the post-slavery era. The handling of resettlement of former slaves would be managed much better because it wouldn't be a slapdash thing cobbled together at the last moment, and I'm pretty sure you'd see more blacks living in the Great Plains and out west due to the abundance of land there. The abolitionist movement would have been allowed to fully bloom, creating a more positive racial environment.

The Mexicans might retain California and the American SW, even in the face of Texas expanding south to the Rio Grande like it did under the US yoke in real life. At the same time, you'd eventually see the northern parts of Mexico secede in order to either join Texas, or start their own republic(s). Still, you'd see Mexico retaining its prestige and maybe dodging the plethora of shit rulers it had in the late 19th century. European affairs not being greatly affected at first, you'd still see stuff like Napoleon III, and perhaps the Revolutions of 1848.

[Stellonia]

I'd prevent the United States from annexing Texas in 1845.

By doing this, I'd prevent the slave states from gaining any more power, and have them stop their advance westward. They'd soon be outnumbered by a lot, as new free states entered the union. Meanwhile, there'd be no Mexican-American War, or at least it'd be smaller in scale. This would mean that all the combat veterans who went into the CSA's army wouldn't exist. These two factors would conspire to prevent in large measure the Civil War from coming to a head, due to the weaker nature of the South. Slavery would therefore be abolished by legislation rather than force of arms, and as a result, you would see less bitterness from the post-slavery era. The handling of resettlement of former slaves would be managed much better because it wouldn't be a slapdash thing cobbled together at the last moment, and I'm pretty sure you'd see more blacks living in the Great Plains and out west due to the abundance of land there. The abolitionist movement would have been allowed to fully bloom, creating a more positive racial environment.

The Mexicans might retain California and the American SW, even in the face of Texas expanding south to the Rio Grande like it did under the US yoke in real life. At the same time, you'd eventually see the northern parts of Mexico secede in order to either join Texas, or start their own republic(s). Still, you'd see Mexico retaining its prestige and maybe dodging the plethora of shit rulers it had in the late 19th century. European affairs not being greatly affected at first, you'd still see stuff like Napoleon III, and perhaps the Revolutions of 1848.

Sounds much better than reality. Does Texas get annexed at any point, by the way?

[Havenburgh]

I wouldnt change anything due to the repercussions it would have on the rest of history

[Jamzmania]

That would end the Dark ages? Or anything like ISIS happening in the modern world?

You would still have ISIS-like groups. the only difference would be that they would be Christians.

In the Middle east, almost everybody fucking loses.

We've already got what is essentially "Christian ISIS", it's called the Westboro Baptist Church

As bad as it is, the Westboro Baptist Church does not behead apostates and infidels, does not commit mass murder, does not commit mass rape, does not partake in the slave trade, and does not actively seek to established a Christian theocratic state through force of arms.

[The Wolven League]

We've already got what is essentially "Christian ISIS", it's called the Westboro Baptist Church

As bad as it is, the Westboro Baptist Church does not behead apostates and infidels, does not commit mass murder, does not commit mass rape, does not partake in the slave trade, and does not actively seek to established a Christian theocratic state through force of arms.

If they COULD do those things, I'm sure a lot of their leaders and followers would jump at the chance.

[Jochistan]

We've already got what is essentially "Christian ISIS", it's called the Westboro Baptist Church

As bad as it is, the Westboro Baptist Church does not behead apostates and infidels, does not commit mass murder, does not commit mass rape, does not partake in the slave trade, and does not actively seek to established a Christian theocratic state through force of arms.

Yes. almost solely because they live in a Political and Cultural Environment far too stable to allow them to do that. And the fact that they're too fat and inbred to fight.

I would also Make it so that Alexander the Great's Ancestors were stable, well established, and competent in holding his empire together or I would make the Parthians and Sassanids far less Insane and Xenophobic. Promoting Much more (consistent) advancement and research.

[The Wolven League]

As bad as it is, the Westboro Baptist Church does not behead apostates and infidels, does not commit mass murder, does not commit mass rape, does not partake in the slave trade, and does not actively seek to established a Christian theocratic state through force of arms.

Yes. almost solely because they live in a Political and Cultural Environment far too stable to allow them to do that. And the fact that they're too fat and inbred to fight.

I would also Make it so that Alexander the Great's Ancestors were stable, well established, and competent in holding his empire together or I would make the Parthians and Sassanids far less Insane and Xenophobic. Promoting Much more (consistent) advancement and research.

A more advanced Persian empire might allow them to dominate the Mid East, which would likely prevent Islam. Even if the Persians are one of my favorite nations in history, you have to consider the long-term effects

[Husseinarti]

I'd prevent the United States from annexing Texas in 1845.

By doing this, I'd prevent the slave states from gaining any more power, and have them stop their advance westward. They'd soon be outnumbered by a lot, as new free states entered the union. Meanwhile, there'd be no Mexican-American War, or at least it'd be smaller in scale. This would mean that all the combat veterans who went into the CSA's army wouldn't exist. These two factors would conspire to prevent in large measure the Civil War from coming to a head, due to the weaker nature of the South. Slavery would therefore be abolished by legislation rather than force of arms, and as a result, you would see less bitterness from the post-slavery era. The handling of resettlement of former slaves would be managed much better because it wouldn't be a slapdash thing cobbled together at the last moment, and I'm pretty sure you'd see more blacks living in the Great Plains and out west due to the abundance of land there. The abolitionist movement would have been allowed to fully bloom, creating a more positive racial environment.

The Mexicans might retain California and the American SW, even in the face of Texas expanding south to the Rio Grande like it did under the US yoke in real life. At the same time, you'd eventually see the northern parts of Mexico secede in order to either join Texas, or start their own republic(s). Still, you'd see Mexico retaining its prestige and maybe dodging the plethora of shit rulers it had in the late 19th century. European affairs not being greatly affected at first, you'd still see stuff like Napoleon III, and perhaps the Revolutions of 1848.

I mean maybe if you never read any deeper into the US Civil War beyond "It was 4 teh blecks"

[The Wolven League]

I'd prevent the United States from annexing Texas in 1845.

By doing this, I'd prevent the slave states from gaining any more power, and have them stop their advance westward. They'd soon be outnumbered by a lot, as new free states entered the union. Meanwhile, there'd be no Mexican-American War, or at least it'd be smaller in scale. This would mean that all the combat veterans who went into the CSA's army wouldn't exist. These two factors would conspire to prevent in large measure the Civil War from coming to a head, due to the weaker nature of the South. Slavery would therefore be abolished by legislation rather than force of arms, and as a result, you would see less bitterness from the post-slavery era. The handling of resettlement of former slaves would be managed much better because it wouldn't be a slapdash thing cobbled together at the last moment, and I'm pretty sure you'd see more blacks living in the Great Plains and out west due to the abundance of land there. The abolitionist movement would have been allowed to fully bloom, creating a more positive racial environment.

The Mexicans might retain California and the American SW, even in the face of Texas expanding south to the Rio Grande like it did under the US yoke in real life. At the same time, you'd eventually see the northern parts of Mexico secede in order to either join Texas, or start their own republic(s). Still, you'd see Mexico retaining its prestige and maybe dodging the plethora of shit rulers it had in the late 19th century. European affairs not being greatly affected at first, you'd still see stuff like Napoleon III, and perhaps the Revolutions of 1848.

I mean maybe if you never read any deeper into the US Civil War beyond "It was 4 teh blecks"

Which it wasn't. That was propaganda to get more blacks to support the Union.

[The Princes of the Universe]

I mean maybe if you never read any deeper into the US Civil War beyond "It was 4 teh blecks"

Alien Space Bats put that little bit of neo-Confederate apologist bullshit to bed weeks ago.

[The Wolven League]

I mean maybe if you never read any deeper into the US Civil War beyond "It was 4 teh blecks"

Alien Space Bats put that little bit of neo-Confederate apologist bullshit to bed weeks ago.

Alien Space Bats... wut.