Witness to history...pick a day, any day.

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I'm just curious about you history connoisseurs -I've got the time machine ready and waiting. If you could travel back in time, to any period and date - what would you pick? What event would you most like to have experienced first hand. You are guaranteed a safe return so don't worry about plagues, food poisoning or a Viking axe being lodged in your head.

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I'd like to see the start of the French Revolution right up to Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Immense period in French history imo.

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Grande Armée :

And being an actor of "reign of terror", ending like Robespierre?

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Ever since I visited Marie Antoinette's little faux shepherdess' village I have had some sympathy for her. I thought anyone who could of conceive of something so charming couldn't be all bad. After reading a couple of recent biographies about her my sympathy has increased. I think she was a victim of privilege and her times, in an odd kind of way. No tears over Louis XVI here - I think the French were right-on getting rid of him.

If I had to chose a queen to live under- I would go with Elizabeth I.

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To know all about her complicated love affairs?

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I'm one of those rare Americans who doesn't care about a leader's sex life - just how they lead.

If Elizabeth I could have her "virginity" and lovers too - all the more power to her.

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I cheer you for thinking so.

And, BTW, Welcome to A2K!!!

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Francis wrote:

Grande Armée :

And being an actor of "reign of terror", ending like Robespierre?

The "Terror" was indeed a very bad time. The birth of extreme radicalism I believe. Still a fascinating period in time.

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I would love to witness the debate over the Constitution, although, of course, that would be a rather drawn out "event."

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Oh do I have to pick just one? I am an avid History Geek.

Just a taste of the 1700's in Scotland during the war with the English, although the lifestyle is less than attractive for a moden person (pew...) Clan history is extremely interesting to me.

The roaring 20's when mob life was at it's peak. I'd love to have hung around with the wiseguys just to see what it was really like. The whole lifestyle facinates me.

Just two of my absolute favorite historical interests.

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The unification of China and the reign of Emperor Qin. I'm an ancient Chinese history buff. The terracotta warriors, the heavenly horses, the Great Wallm the Silk Road, classical chinese philosophy. It all brings a smile to this geek's face.

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What century {western calendar} did the unification take place? Was this the same time period that the movie "Hero" placed it's mythical story? I have seen the terracotta warriors on exhibit in NYC, but I don't remember the dates.

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How about...

October 1917 (Rise of Soviet Bolsheviks)
9 Nov. 1989 (Fall of Berlin Wall)
6 June 1944 (Invasion of Normandy)

I have always been somewhat mystified by the life of communism, especially in the Soviet Union. Plus, I'd just like to witness the massive scale of the landings in Normandy.

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Green Witch wrote:

What century {western calendar} did the unification take place? Was this the same time period that the movie "Hero" placed it's mythical story? I have seen the terracotta warriors on exhibit in NYC, but I don't remember the dates.

Hi Green Witch , in answer to your questions: the unification took place under the Qin dynasty from 221-206 BCE. And yes, the movie "Hero" by Zhang Yimou is loosely based on assassination attempts on the first emperor Qin Shihuangdi. He died in 210 BCE but the Warriors were only recently discovered in 1974.

Conman71- I recently met someone who present when the Berlin Wall came down. He said it was one of the most memorable and astonishing moments in his life. Made me wish I was there.

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I'm surprised that no one, so far, has mentioned the Crucifixtion, just to see whether it really happened and what really happened. I mean, if the Bible is correct, wouldn't you just love to be there on the day of the alleged Resurrection?

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Good point, Merry Andrew. Especially after The DaVinci Code and this kind of duobt surrounding the Catholic Church.

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I'm so conditioned to keep faith locked away from academic thought that it didn't even pop into my head to go back to an event just to prove it happened. There are probably a lot of such events that fall into the mythical or faith based belief of history- such as the warrior stuffed Trojan Horse or the parting of the Red Sea.

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I would pick the witch burnings of the 1700's in england

Then i would like to travel to the Ice Age in northern europe.

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I'd love ro be in Hastings, England in October, 1066.

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I think I would have liked to have been one of the first settlers in the West...maybe Montana or Wyoming. Traveled in covered wagons.......

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Witness to history...pick a day, any day.

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