Alternate Timelines

Cultural Developments

Scenarios examining alternate paths for art, literature, music, religion, and social movements

What If Ancient Greek Democracy Spread Throughout the Mediterranean?

Exploring how Western political development might have unfolded if democratic governance had become more widespread in the ancient Mediterranean world rather than being largely replaced by monarchies and empires.

March 15, 2023 Read More →

What If Korean Scientific Traditions Gained Greater Recognition?

Exploring how world history would have unfolded if Korean scientific and technological innovations had been more widely recognized and adopted globally, reshaping the development of science and technology.

March 12, 2023 Read More →

What If Sappho's Complete Works Survived?

Exploring how Western literature, attitudes toward female authorship, and understanding of sexuality might have developed differently if Sappho's complete poetic corpus had been preserved through the ages.

November 5, 2022 Read More →

What If Hypatia's Mathematical Work Survived?

Exploring how mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy might have developed if Hypatia's complete works had been preserved, potentially advancing scientific understanding by centuries.

October 22, 2022 Read More →

What If Shakespeare Never Wrote His Plays?

Exploring how English literature and theater would have developed if William Shakespeare had never written his iconic works, fundamentally altering the trajectory of Western culture and language.

October 15, 2022 Read More →

What If Indigenous American Religious Practices Unified?

Exploring how pre-Columbian civilizations might have developed if a pan-American religious movement had emerged, potentially creating greater cultural cohesion across diverse indigenous societies.

October 12, 2022 Read More →