If time travel was possible, and you went back to antiqity or middle ages, what do you think you could do?

Question

What I mean is, we are very advanced in technology and knowledge, but without all the equipment we have bought, if we find ourselves in a civilisation with no electricity, no machines, no calculators, no chemical factories, what could we actually make that would impress the ancient people or at least produce some development? Can you think of what type of job you could have in Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, or medieval England or anything like that?

Anabelle, where would you find an airplane? See what I mean?

Answer 1

I read a very funny SF short story (I don't remember the author).

A modern guy time-travels to medieval Iceland. He speaks old Icelandic and has a lot of ideas to improve the life of poor peasants. He tries to build a steam engine but fails. The villagers, who were interested at first, start thinking he's off his rocker. Finally, he becomes the blacksmith's apprentice and never marries because he's too poor. With years, he talks less and less about his ideas and works more and more.

The last sentence, spoken by a peasant, goes something like this: "He might become a worthy man yet." A great take on our patronizing attitude to the past.

Or, if you want a "progress" story, there's "The Deadly Mission of Phineas Snodgrass" by Frederik Pohl, a very entertaining story. Phineas travels back to ancient Rome and teaches modern medicine, which causes a population explosion and major problems. In the end, the Earth is forced to take drastic measures (but I won't reveal which).

Answer 2

What you are talking about is covered by the following concept:

If a technology is technologically advanced enough, it can be viewed as magic.

Most people, when they turn their ignition keys, do not know how a car actually works, they just accept that it does.

That said, we have a great deal of knowledge of everyday things that would be viewed as revolutionary. Imagine the implications of co ordinate geometry on ancient Greece. Also, imagine being able to build a simple blast furnace. Other things might be social, or process bases. Wouldn't it be fun to introduce the idea of Kaizan, or even Voltair to medieval Europe (If you don't get burnt for heresy).

Also, consider all of those childrens toys that you buy from £ shops. The ones that are really simple, like childrens printing presses, or potters wheels, etc.

Now imagine the impact of suct devices, which are simple enough to build, on ancient society.

Now another thought. Consider that, rather than implementing new technology, you wanted to leave a message to future humanity, perhaps warning of an impending disaster. Perhaps you would imbed the message in a form that is easily remembered, like songs, or stories. You might also embed it in a religion.

So, the answer to your question is that I could probably have a large impact, even though I do not have an engineering degree. A lot of the things that we know as true, because we have seen them or know that they work, can be created, written about, or painted.

I think the real problem with your time travel question is not, how much could I achieve, but how do I stop myself from altering history too much, perhaps causing a split in the multiverse, paradox, or other calamity.

Luck

Answer 3

Air pilot. I bet that would impress them no end.

Answer 4

lol..off the top of my head I would 'invent' stirrups for saddles.