Would also need to be able to choose where you went. A goat farm in Mongolia might not work.
Probably the best thing one could do for the Incas and Aztecs and other pre-Columbians would be to show them what a wheel is and how it works.
If you knew history well you might be able to take advantage of knowing the future as it were. It will still be rough goings.
Maybe if we changed the question a little to give some more perspective. Lets say you had been living 100 years in the future and the United States had suffered a severe decline. The constitution had been shredded. Muslims outnumbered Christians, white people were a hated minority, global cooling had caused mass famine and tens of millions of people had starved to death in the United States alone. Advanced technology was being used to enslave rather than help people. Would you do to help our future generations to avoid this living hell?
One can live three seconds without a brain; three minutes without a breath; three hours without shelter; three days without water; three weeks without food; three months without a friend; three years without job.
Modern technology is the bane of man. Goibg back 1000 years would end techno man in three days.
I’d set up a beehive with movable straight frames- a Langstroth hive. Can be done all with wood and produces lots of clean honey and wax.
Nope. And most of the folks who think they do wouldn’t either. Compared to our life things 1000 years ago were an extreme survival situation, and most of us would die in a week or two. And even if you could “invent” stuff you’d quickly find you couldn’t because so many of the building blocks to make those things wouldn’t exist. You’d have a hard time making any medical advances with the glass, steel and fire technology of the day. Plus of course you wouldn’t ACTUALLY speak the language because English has changed a lot, so forget getting help from anybody.
If I went back a thousand years I think I’d have my work cut out for me explaining to them why they shouldn’t have snapshots on production virtual machines.
If I went back to the year 1015 in the place where I am now living, I would hope to at least be able to bring my Boy Scout Handbook, a knife, a hatchet and a good supply of matches. Life would be quite primitive until Spanish settlers showed up 754 years later.
If I could choose a place to live in 1015, it would be the Constantinople or somewhere else in the Roman Empire, which was enjoying a few years of stability in the midst of its final comeback under the emperor Basil II.
I read that before the invention of anti-biotics, 90% of deaths were caused by infectious diseases.
Now it is something like 10% with cancer and heart disease being the big ones.
(which is "Don't because it's a huge time waster...")
Well, if you tried to speak of who you are and from whence you came, not to mention your knowledge; you’d probably be labeled a heretic at best, or a witch at the worst.
Fun times would ensue.
In “The Time Machine”, Wilbur takes three books with him. What 3 books would you bring?
Also, in “Fahrenheit 451”, the characters memorize one book. What book would you memorize to take back in time?
If I went back in time 1000 years, I would warn against the man-made global warming of the Medieval Warm Period. I’d be rich. Screw the peasants.
Great question, great exercise! Haven’t looked at ‘em, yet, but at least a few of the thread comments are somewhat revealing by now.
Yes, good materials for tools and parts were available back then. Good knowledge of history along with willingness to be humble, patient and hard working would be needed. Wisely presented, ideas with examples would be valuable.
Sounds like the movie “Timeline”
Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This... is my boomstick! The twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about a hundred and nine, ninety five. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. You got that?
Problem solved.
Would also need to be able to choose where you went. A goat farm in Mongolia might not work.
interesting topic
I’s be spared reading a hundred arrogant posts about how well some knuckleheads would do.
BTW, time is a human construct. One cannot go back in time. When timekeeping is no longer needed, time will end.