- “Science for Dummies” book
- “Latin for Dummies” book
- “Engineering for Dummies” book
I would try to jump-start science way earlier to see what would happen. This would be pre-gold rush and pre-oil, so most of earth’s resources are still present.
Ideally, try to advance science while avoiding global warming this time around.
Well the somewhat good news is the Romans were close to a steam powered Renaissance but they just thought it was a toy. You could make steam powered rail roads and really fuck up the timeline.
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My cat. Because there won’t be anyone to take care of her.
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A sample of copper water line and a valve - something they can study and reverse engineer to improve their infrastructure. I’ll have to explain the concept of water towers too since I probably won’t be able to actually bring one.
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A book on the history of the Roman Empire. Maybe they’ll do things a little differently this time.
Am I allowed to warn them about Pompei? They’ve got four years to evacuate that area.
If you manage to buddy-up with Domitian before he becomes emperor in 81, he’d definitely change things up.
You predicted the eruption of Mount Vesuvius so he knows you’re not a hack. So he’ll probably believe you when you tell him he eventually gets assassinated.
From there, who knows where history goes. He definitely curtails the Senate even more so maybe the Empire enters the Dominate phase of its history 200 years early?
Maybe point Trajan and Hadrian out to him if he’s looking for competent allies/potential successors. Well, Hadrian isn’t born until 76 but you probably won’t butterfly him away in 1 year.
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Glasses. Not for me, but to show the Romans that some that can’t see shit that magic glass can make them see better. Either that or a magnifying glass, so it can double as a fun trick of sunlight burning, which, hopefully, can teach them to make concave/convex glasses for people.
A sewing machine. It’s electric, but by opening it up and trying to replicate the pattern manually, those old, fully manual ones could be built.
A world atlas. Maps weren’t exactly common and, for most of human history, unreliable, so having something like that would be extremely valuable, even if it lacked some info like terrain elevation or type of environment.
Antique stores often have old Singer treadle sewing machines. Needs zero electricity to run and easy to repair.
SPF 50+ sunscreen, a towel, and my bicycle.
A towel of course. Never forget your towel.
The internet, because I can’t live without the internet anymore.
And a game where I can take another 3 items with me…
The nerd in me says a solar generator, a laptop and a book on computing. See what they come up with.
This might be too big of a technological leap for them. I say bring stuff related to Industrial Revolution era tech. They already know about steam power but they only use it as a party trick. Show someone in power what it can actually do and you might just make steampunk Rome! 😀
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Solar battery, ebike, and solar panels
I have a Latin text book from middle school somewhere in the attic. I suspect I’ll want that to brush up on my Latin.
I also have a Smith & Wesson 45 revolver. It’s a limited edition collectors item with 6 rounds in a case, but it would shoot and that would probably come in handy. Unfortunately, I have no other ammunition.
Probably after that the first aid kit.
If you bring a thing, does that include the things contents? Say if you were to say “My handgun” would that include the bullets inside of it? Where do you draw that line? I have a bag packed full of useful items, if I say that bag, will it be empty when I get there?
The contents will be replaced with equivalents from the day, that may or may not function together with your modern item.
Blåhaj, Blåhaj and Blåhaj. The other three will need to be adopted by my bf
- Leatherman Surge v2 multitool. Tools are always useful.
- The Pocket Ref book by Thomas J. Glover
- English to Latin Dictionary
I should put more time into this but lets say I have minutes to decide. I would at this moment grab my leatherman, this other keychain thing that has knife sharpeners and fire starter combo (also a whistle), and for number three. mmmm. er. boy wish I had a latin to english translation book but I don’t. mmmm. ah you know what. a silicone baking sheet.
A board game, my guitar and a toothbrush.
An axe, a hammer, a chisel.
They would be higher quality than anything in the time period and I would go to a blacksmith and use them to trade for an education in metallurgy. I would help bring as much modern metalwork into the past and move them away from lead in their waterways and the madness that befell Rome.
