Five Most Important Events/Occurrences in History...

[macdoc]

aside from the assinine last crack which deserves....


You have some great ego to think you can place yourself in an Assyrians clogs or a Japanese noble's view point.....

Sounds much like some bishop waggling his bejewelled fingers and declaiming.....this is the handed down WORD!!...and as much value.

Hubris indeed.....but by all means live with your illusions...who knows somebody might even pay for them..

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Spanish Armada. It guaranteed British dominance of Eastern North America [the important part, in those pre-rail years], and presaged both the rise of the Royal Navy, with all that that implies, as well as the decline of Spain.

[Trolldor]

It's rather absurd to say there are five 'most important' when there are thousands of events which if changed even slightly would have dramatically altered the future of the Earth.

[Coito ergo sum]

It's rather absurd to say there are five 'most important' when there are thousands of events which if changed even slightly would have dramatically altered the future of the Earth.

That's why we discuss our opinions on what are the "most important."

[Trolldor]

Nope. You can't make that decision, for every one you decide is 'important' there are countless other decisions and choices which allowed it to come about, eliminate one of them and it never happens.

[Ian]

1938 - War of the Worlds is broadcast.

1952 - Richard Nixon makes his "Checkers" speech.

1969 - War erupts between Honduras and El Salvador after a soccer match.

1977 - Star Wars is released.

2001 - George W. Bush passes out while choking on a pretzel.

[klr]

28th June 1914. Gavrilo Princip steps out of a café in Sarajevo after finishing a tasty sandwich, only to see the car of Archduke Ferdinand, trying to back out of a wrong turning ...

[RuleBritannia]

28th June 1914. Gavrilo Princip steps out of a café in Sarajevo after finishing a tasty sandwich, only to see the car of Archduke Ferdinand, trying to back out of a wrong turning ...

I already beat you to Franz Ferdinand.

[klr]

28th June 1914. Gavrilo Princip steps out of a café in Sarajevo after finishing a tasty sandwich, only to see the car of Archduke Ferdinand, trying to back out of a wrong turning ...

I already beat you to Franz Ferdinand.

But not to The Sandwich Of Doom ...

[Coito ergo sum]

Nope. You can't make that decision, for every one you decide is 'important' there are countless other decisions and choices which allowed it to come about, eliminate one of them and it never happens.

I'm not making any "decision." It's a discussion of hypothetical situations, and of course there are countless other decisions and choices.

It's like alternative history novels. They change a major or minor event or factor, and then speculate what might have happened had things gone differently into an alternative timeline. Like in "Fatherland" - what if Germany won WW2? Or, any Harry Turtledove novel like "Guns of the South" or "Ruled Brittania" where things go differently

Of course all this is speculative, but it's meant to be a fun speculation of hypothetical "what ifs" - if it's not your cup of tea, then to each his own.

[Berthold]

The intrigue at the Ming court that undid this guy's achievements.

Expulsion of the Jews and Moors from Spain (the country would otherwise have been very different: perhaps more prosperous and less aggressive).

Steam engine, Industrial Revolution.

European unification after WWII.

Demise of the Soviet system without war (and nearly no bloodshed).

[Tero]

The first wave of Middle Eastern/Southern folks invade Europe and chase out or absorb hunter gatherers. 11 centuries ago.

[Animavore]

Donald Trump becomes President.

[tattuchu]

Donald Trump becomes President.

And shortly thereafter...WWIII.

[Feck]

The first hominid that bashed a piece of flint against another rock ......