Ancient History
Scenarios from the dawn of civilization to 500 CE
What If Mesoamerican Ball Games Evolved Into Different Sports?
Exploring how indigenous American cultures might have developed if their ritual ball games had evolved into diverse athletic competitions, potentially creating a rich sporting tradition that could have spread globally.
What If China's Ban on Maritime Trade Never Happened?
Exploring how world history might have unfolded if Ming Dynasty China had maintained and expanded its naval dominance, potentially discovering the Americas from the west and creating a different global power balance.
What If the Silk Road Developed Earlier?
Exploring how world history might have unfolded if trade routes between East Asia and the Mediterranean had been established centuries earlier, potentially accelerating cultural and technological exchange across Eurasia.
What If the Battle of Marathon Was Lost?
Exploring how world history would have unfolded if Persian forces had defeated the Athenians at Marathon in 490 BCE, potentially altering the development of Western civilization.
What If Alexander the Great Invaded China?
Exploring how world history would have unfolded if Alexander the Great had continued his eastward conquests after India, leading to a direct encounter between Hellenistic and Chinese civilizations.
What If Ancient Greece Developed Modern Banking?
Exploring how economic and political development might have unfolded if Greek city-states had created sophisticated financial institutions, potentially accelerating economic development throughout the ancient Mediterranean.