History

Altered history, timelines, descriptions

Remixing History: Anasazi/Pueblo

By Branch, January 25th, 2011

A note on nomenclature: since there appear to be divided opinions among absolutely everyone involved, I’m choosing to use “Anasazi” to designate the dominant south-eastern Northern Native American cultural group on the basis that even a hostile Navajo term is less objectionable than even a relatively neutral Spanish term, taking the history into account. Besides, […]

Remixing History: Russia

By Branch, January 23rd, 2011

Note: This should by no means be taken as a comprehensive timeline. It is, rather, an outline intended to hit the key points of technological development and historical alteration. All named individuals are actual historical figures. 13th C: The Mongols advance westward as far as Vladimir-Suzdal/Duchy of Moscow, but Ogedei Khan dies a few years […]

Remixing History: Europe

By Branch, June 18th, 2010

14th-16th C: The European Renaissance happens on schedule, as does the Schism within the Catholic church. As Europe starts to emerge from feudal isolation, inventors and scholars, especially in Italy, communicate more with their counterparts in the Ottoman Empire. International trade gains momentum and drives the development of sailing technologies as a route to Asian […]

Remixing History: Tokugawa Japan

By Branch, June 14th, 2010

At the beginning of the Tokugawa period, Japan has movable type, flight, increased mining for coal as well as metal, texts on optics and the theory of the steam turbine. The requirements of unification still lead Toyotomi to decree fixed classes, to limit travel, to disarm farmers and control samurai by separating them from the […]

The Historical Fulcrum

By Branch, June 12th, 2010

The goal of most of my steampunk worldbuilding has been to get everyone to meet at the 17th and 18th centuries. Up to that point, my concept of technological development has been very standard and historical; some things get noticed earlier, like movable type or the steam turbine, some social catalysts are moved around to […]

Remixing History: India

By Branch, June 8th, 2010

Note: This should by no means be taken as a comprehensive timeline. It is, rather, an outline intended to hit the key points of technological development and historical alteration. All named individuals are actual historical figures. 4th-6th C: The Golden Age of India, the Classical period, happens on schedule and produces a bounty of achievements […]

Remixing History: Abbasid Caliphate, Ottoman Empire, Egypt

By Branch, June 7th, 2010

Note: This should by no means be taken as a comprehensive timeline. It is, rather, an outline intended to hit the key points of technological development and historical alteration. All named individuals are actual historical figures. 8th-13th C: Golden Age of Islam happens on schedule under the Abbasid Caliphate. 13th-14th C: Mongol Empire smashes the […]

Remixing History: Maya, Inca, Nahuatl, Anasazi/Pueblo, Iroquois, Anishinabek, Athabascan

By Branch, June 7th, 2010

Talking about a non-colonial Western hemisphere causes some difficulties of nomenclature. Many of the now-common names for peoples and nations are not the names those people would have used, and almost certainly not the name that would have been used had those people continued to flourish. In order that the greatest possible number of readers […]

Remixing History: China, Korea, Japan

By Branch, June 5th, 2010

Note: This should by no means be taken as a comprehensive timeline. It is, rather, an outline intended to hit a few key points of technological development and historical alteration. All named individuals are actual historical figures. China 8th C: Tang dynasty The printing press has been invented and movable type spreads when an influential […]