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Under-examined Areas of Alternate History
Topic Started: Oct 9 2010, 11:48 AM (370 Views)
Basil Fawlty
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Post Tenebras Lux
The thread about AH cliches prompted me to consider the opposite premise: various aspects of alternate history that have garnered comparatively little attention but have great potential.

Off the top of my head, there is one example from ancient times: a greater Roman presence in Britain after 410 AD. I doubt anything dramatic could be maintained for long, but even a slightly different environment would have interesting butterflies for the Saxon invasions.
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Matthew
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It would see, perhaps, Britons (the original ones) less confined in the west? With even a bit more Roman superstructure they may be able to hold the Saxons farther east, giving them time, namely until the Saxons settle down.
That is, unless the Saxons had specific territorial goals in mind that they would go for before "going native".
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Simon Darkshade
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
Not so much examined in alternate history, but explored quite a bit in popular culture such as novels, films and television series.

A few:

- Anything that examines culture or aspects of society beyond military, economics and politics in great depth is quite rare as a general rule.
- I haven't seen much on Siam or Indochina in the pre-modern period
- The English Civil War
- Europe 1680-1750
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Basil Fawlty
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Post Tenebras Lux
I expect one of the main reasons that topic has not been explored much is the lack of sources on 5th century Britannia. Hence, it is easier to fit things into an Arthurian world where details and accuracy aren't critical.

Cultural timelines are something I'd like to see more of, particularly in conjunction with the oft-mentioned AH political developments.
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JBK
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How about a war between Austria and the USA in the 1840's. Didnt you stumble upon a possible casus belli in WI?
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Basil Fawlty
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Post Tenebras Lux
That would be the Koszta Affair, which seems to have attracted quite a bit of attention back in the day, but now appears virtually unknown in history books.

It would take a bit of pushing for it to turn into a full blown war. The initial provocation would have to come from the Austrian side, I think, perhaps by the Huszar opening fire on the USS St. Louis. Any conflict fought with the Austrian Empire would necessarily be a naval one, regardless of whether Prussia and the other German states joined, and the condition of all the German navies was such that it would remain fairly limited to blockade duty and a few small battles. Both sides would probably recognize this beforehand and choose to settle it diplomatically.

Also, the British might have put pressure on the Austrians, since they apparently saw it as another Don Pacifico affair. Which is rather interesting actually, as it potentially leads to an early "blood is thicker than water" rapprochement.
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