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Not really Larry Send a noteboard - 08/04/2010 01:07:57 PM
What if black pepper had been an indigenous plant in Europe and/or the Middle East? Not only does that impact a small but important part of medieval trade - the most long-distance one - but it also is of crucial importance to the European discovery journeys of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, and hence to the entire concept of colonialism.


Or what if potatoes or tobacco had not been imported from South America.


Tobacco was from North America/the Caribbean, or at least the specific species that are smoked by most people :P

Of course, if tobacco was not a cash crop, my family would never have been wealthy in the early 19th century (nor would they have lost most everything between the Panic of 1837 and the Civil War :P)


Yesyes. Details. I come from Norway. Everywhere that is warm enough for tobacco growing is per definition SOUTH.

And, of course, part of the scenario would have to be that it were never grown by European immigrants either.


It's okay. I always think "up there" for any region where snow lies on the ground more than a handful of days a year, if that much. :P

And then there's that scenario if Songhai had not been weakened by invasions from the Sahara...


Now you are back on political history.


I consider the social vacuum created by the collapse of a strong polity in the Sahel to be responsible in part for the atrocity known as the transatlantic slave trade. The social upheaval that was unleashed is something that certainly affects hundreds of millions directly and almost as many indirectly today.

That being said, some of my vocabulary would have been different if this hadn't taken place.
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie

Je suis méchant.
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I know I just did a survey, but this was too good to pass up. LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 12:44:15 AM 899 Views
Myself: World War I. LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 12:45:57 AM 773 Views
I don't think it's that simple. Joel - 07/04/2010 12:57:16 AM 726 Views
I see your point. LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:02:33 AM 722 Views
Sometimes sooner is better than later. Joel - 07/04/2010 01:10:11 AM 694 Views
True. LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:14:45 AM 682 Views
True, one might even say *adding* a war there would've improved things. Legolas - 07/04/2010 01:36:07 AM 673 Views
*nods* A small war is usually preferable to a big war. Joel - 07/04/2010 01:49:06 AM 679 Views
Re: True, one might even say *adding* a war there would've improved things. snoopcester - 07/04/2010 10:48:49 AM 687 Views
I had a teacher with an interesting theory related to that LadyLorraine - 07/04/2010 12:57:49 AM 567 Views
Well, at this time, it was pretty well accepted that Russia wasn't exactly a techinical power. LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:04:35 AM 536 Views
The Plague MalkierKnight - 07/04/2010 12:52:33 AM 659 Views
Re: The Plague LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:05:35 AM 554 Views
He must be talking about a different plague, but I'm not sure which one, either. *NM* Legolas - 07/04/2010 01:37:32 AM 410 Views
Maybe; there were episodic plague epidemics before and after that time. Joel - 07/04/2010 02:05:18 AM 713 Views
I am talking about one of the plagues not THE plague MalkierKnight - 07/04/2010 02:50:25 AM 656 Views
Re: I am talking about one of the plagues not THE plague lyringlas - 07/04/2010 08:45:26 PM 654 Views
I'm so glad you have the time and inclination to type up these replies. *NM* Ghavrel - 08/04/2010 07:09:22 AM 408 Views
...? lyringlas - 08/04/2010 07:51:14 PM 559 Views
Sounds like he was thanking you for saving him the effort of writing a similar reply. *NM* Legolas - 08/04/2010 09:28:55 PM 432 Views
If that is the case, then great *NM* lyringlas - 08/04/2010 09:30:51 PM 383 Views
OK, think this one's been pretty thoroughly covered in my absence. Joel - 13/04/2010 11:51:16 AM 715 Views
The spread of Christianity LadyLorraine - 07/04/2010 12:55:29 AM 736 Views
Huh. Wild to think about. *NM* LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:06:44 AM 418 Views
Re: The spread of Christianity lyringlas - 07/04/2010 08:47:06 PM 543 Views
Re: The spread of Christianity Camilla - 08/04/2010 09:29:17 AM 572 Views
Why would that have an impact on Judaism? Kronin al'Sulc - 08/04/2010 01:40:47 PM 659 Views
Re: Why would that have an impact on Judaism? Camilla - 08/04/2010 01:42:25 PM 478 Views
But wasn't Christianity the inspiration for a whole era of art? *NM* Kronin al'Sulc - 08/04/2010 01:41:34 PM 520 Views
Re: But wasn't Christianity the inspiration for a whole era of art? Camilla - 08/04/2010 01:44:36 PM 710 Views
precisely. LadyLorraine - 08/04/2010 05:37:26 PM 667 Views
sorry, didn't see that Lorraine already addressed this. *NM* lyringlas - 08/04/2010 07:55:00 PM 413 Views
The product of Christian inspiration was heavily Hellenistic in origin... lyringlas - 08/04/2010 07:54:12 PM 548 Views
The Partition of India, 1947... *NM* BlackAdder - 07/04/2010 12:59:32 AM 410 Views
Any paticular reason why? *NM* LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:34:54 AM 413 Views
Agreed. *NM* Kylia Skydancer - 07/04/2010 01:59:02 AM 542 Views
The destruction of the Great Library. Joel - 07/04/2010 01:02:59 AM 623 Views
Internet spam sucks indeed. LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:08:23 AM 722 Views
We'll never know; makes for fascinating speculative fiction. Joel - 07/04/2010 01:13:49 AM 687 Views
This whole topic is wild, it's something I sometimes think about. LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:17:50 AM 665 Views
Ya, that's what makes history so gripping. Joel - 07/04/2010 01:19:54 AM 769 Views
I don't know if that's really true... Legolas - 07/04/2010 01:39:51 AM 686 Views
It wouldn't have been as sudden or extreme. Joel - 07/04/2010 01:58:39 AM 726 Views
"Joel captures Alexandria! The Great Library is destroyed!" *NM* moondog - 07/04/2010 01:08:35 AM 290 Views
NOOOO1111 Joel - 07/04/2010 01:11:33 AM 586 Views
A shame. It's one of the better ones, too. *NM* BlackAdder - 07/04/2010 01:14:20 AM 421 Views
Not in the first two Civs. Joel - 07/04/2010 01:22:43 AM 524 Views
Civ, i love that game... MalkierKnight - 07/04/2010 03:01:13 AM 623 Views
Yeah that's one of the small annoying things BlackAdder - 07/04/2010 07:34:52 AM 518 Views
An interesting point MalkierKnight - 07/04/2010 02:57:03 AM 695 Views
That's usually my reply to this question too *NM* ironclad - 07/04/2010 11:42:55 AM 382 Views
It's crazy to think that the human knowledge base doubles every 2 years... lyringlas - 07/04/2010 08:49:28 PM 523 Views
Literacy and communication have literally made a world of difference. Joel - 13/04/2010 09:25:45 AM 611 Views
if the giant meteor hadn't destroyed the dinosaurs... moondog - 07/04/2010 01:10:42 AM 588 Views
"FOR" global warming? Now there's a phrase I never thought I'd here! LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 01:16:04 AM 503 Views
The spread of Islam Dragonsoul - 07/04/2010 01:26:11 AM 689 Views
oh aren't you clever. *NM* LadyLorraine - 07/04/2010 01:47:13 AM 389 Views
There's such a thing as being right for the wrong reasons, though I'm not sure he is. Joel - 07/04/2010 02:12:14 AM 509 Views
Wikipedia is of course not a scholarly source, but all the same... Legolas - 07/04/2010 11:57:01 AM 654 Views
Fair enough. Joel - 07/04/2010 12:51:16 PM 653 Views
I read the Bernard Lewis article referred to at Wikipedia... Legolas - 07/04/2010 01:19:03 PM 646 Views
So it's borrowed propaganda. Joel - 13/04/2010 09:30:39 AM 634 Views
Re: The spread of Islam Camilla - 08/04/2010 09:24:31 AM 734 Views
Haha, are you kidding? Dragonsoul - 08/04/2010 07:59:39 PM 492 Views
Re: Haha, are you kidding? Camilla - 08/04/2010 08:50:33 PM 488 Views
Ask yourself the question... Legolas - 08/04/2010 09:33:33 PM 489 Views
I don't see the connection. BlackAdder - 08/04/2010 08:49:46 PM 664 Views
Re: I don't see the connection. Camilla - 08/04/2010 08:51:21 PM 540 Views
I'd better not touch this one ßelals Girl - 07/04/2010 03:12:00 AM 697 Views
The spread of Judaism. Great Lord of Chaos - 07/04/2010 04:30:37 AM 623 Views
Re: The spread of Judaism. BlackAdder - 07/04/2010 07:31:02 AM 566 Views
I...do not know. Spriteling - 07/04/2010 07:18:13 AM 562 Views
A lot of times, you change one thing, and everything changes- even the things you don't think about. LordPerrin - 07/04/2010 12:26:51 PM 524 Views
Amusing that the underlying expectation seems to be more along political history lines Larry - 07/04/2010 12:56:49 PM 759 Views
Considering the way history is taught, is it surprising? *NM* Ghavrel - 08/04/2010 07:11:03 AM 374 Views
Nope, not really Larry - 08/04/2010 10:24:54 AM 663 Views
Here's one that'll be more to your liking... Legolas - 08/04/2010 10:40:53 AM 498 Views
Yes Larry - 08/04/2010 10:52:11 AM 629 Views
Re: Here's one that'll be more to your liking... Camilla - 08/04/2010 11:58:27 AM 536 Views
Uh... Larry - 08/04/2010 12:11:14 PM 693 Views
Re: Uh... Camilla - 08/04/2010 12:15:20 PM 713 Views
The Devil is always in the details Larry - 08/04/2010 12:29:25 PM 655 Views
Re: The Devil is always in the details Camilla - 08/04/2010 12:32:34 PM 450 Views
Not really Larry - 08/04/2010 01:07:57 PM 613 Views
Re: Not really Camilla - 08/04/2010 01:10:16 PM 531 Views
Only to a degree Larry - 08/04/2010 01:27:22 PM 635 Views
Re: Only to a degree Camilla - 08/04/2010 01:30:12 PM 747 Views
I was into cultural and religious history Larry - 08/04/2010 01:38:24 PM 626 Views
Re: I was into cultural and religious history Camilla - 08/04/2010 01:41:31 PM 513 Views
Ha! Larry - 08/04/2010 01:49:23 PM 672 Views
Re: Ha! Camilla - 08/04/2010 01:51:28 PM 490 Views
I'm really sleep deprived... Larry - 08/04/2010 02:13:20 PM 792 Views
Re: I'm really sleep deprived... Camilla - 08/04/2010 02:19:07 PM 534 Views
Camilla - 08/04/2010 02:52:59 PM 642 Views
Interesting fact of the day for you two... Legolas - 08/04/2010 02:45:15 PM 519 Views
I know Camilla - 08/04/2010 02:46:41 PM 654 Views
It was nice being a "threadkiller" of a different sort Larry - 08/04/2010 10:08:34 PM 533 Views
Quote Pyramids of Destiny FTL *NM* BlackAdder - 08/04/2010 10:16:21 PM 404 Views
Since, surprisingly, no one's pointed it out yet, prehistory/=history. Joel - 13/04/2010 09:52:19 AM 626 Views
me being born mega rich *NM* random thoughts - 07/04/2010 02:15:34 PM 537 Views
Joanie Loves Chachi. Tigr - 07/04/2010 03:42:56 PM 584 Views
worse than "afterMASH"?? *NM* moondog - 07/04/2010 03:50:10 PM 370 Views
Worse than "Joey" ? *NM* TaskmasterJack - 07/04/2010 06:48:25 PM 386 Views
If you remember Joanie loves Chachi, you might be too old? StarrBecca - 08/04/2010 12:00:34 AM 513 Views
Re: I know I just did a survey, but this was too good to pass up. lyringlas - 07/04/2010 09:04:02 PM 532 Views
Science getting on the ball in the 40's and making superhumans *NM* fistofpainx - 08/04/2010 05:31:34 AM 442 Views
The spread of peanut butter and jelly. Ghavrel - 08/04/2010 07:12:21 AM 676 Views
I think two spreads that would be better to eliminate would be marmite and vegemite (sp). Avendesora - 08/04/2010 05:30:26 PM 649 Views
The Bread of Christianity. Ghavrel - 08/04/2010 07:12:51 AM 674 Views
The dead of Christianity. Ghavrel - 08/04/2010 07:13:34 AM 654 Views
The thread of Christianity. Ghavrel - 08/04/2010 07:14:15 AM 608 Views
The head of [Roman Catholic] Christianity. Ghavrel - 08/04/2010 07:15:21 AM 641 Views
You completely missed the "pick 1" part of the question, didn't you? *NM* Camilla - 08/04/2010 09:26:23 AM 400 Views
Well, techinically, I never said that you couldn't make multible posts, each discussing 1 thing. *NM* LordPerrin - 08/04/2010 05:36:37 PM 376 Views
I'm fairly sure he was just mocking someone's earlier post "just thought it would be interesting..." *NM* lyringlas - 08/04/2010 08:06:56 PM 372 Views
I'm pretty sure of that too. *NM* LordPerrin - 08/04/2010 08:33:46 PM 385 Views
...it's pretty interesting *NM* lyringlas - 08/04/2010 08:35:47 PM 444 Views
just as you thought it would be? *NM* BlackAdder - 08/04/2010 08:44:49 PM 371 Views
My parody. Ghavrel - 08/04/2010 10:41:29 PM 619 Views
Re: My parody. Camilla - 09/04/2010 07:29:19 AM 683 Views
The 1987 Rugby World Cup Final Colonel Logain - 13/04/2010 12:23:17 PM 699 Views
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