If I Were Sent Back in Time to the Roman Empire, How Would I Take Over?

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2017

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode is fourth in our Alternate History Week series, where I look at famous books of alternate history and discuss why I think their alternate timelines aren't plausible. Lest Darkness Fall, written in 1939 by L. Sprague de Camp, is one of the classics of the alternate history genre. American archeologist Martin Padway gets sent back to Rome in 535 AD. He introduces new technology to the Italo-Ostrogothic kingdom, such as the telegraph, printing press, and brandy; wards off a Byzantine attack; introduces a constitution; and emancipates the serfs. Great story. It would never work. In this episode I explain why. TO HELP OUT THE SHOW Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher

Transcript

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0:00.0	The history of the Popes of Rome and Christianity reaches into nearly every aspect of history.
0:06.4	In the history of the Papacy podcast, we step over the rope.
0:10.0	We dive into, discover more about the people events and backgrounds that define
0:15.0	the influence of the Popes of Rome and church not only on the West, but the world.
0:20.4	To start listening now, go to pathanompodcast.com or search for
0:25.6	history of the Papacy on your favorite podcast platform.
0:30.4	War has played a key role in the history of the United States,
0:33.8	from the nation's founding right down to the present.
0:36.6	Wars made the United States independent, kept it together, increased its size,
0:41.3	and established it as a global superpower.
0:43.7	Hi, I'm James Early, host of the Key Battles of American History podcast.
0:48.1	In each episode, I discuss American history through the lens of the most important battles of America's Wars.
0:53.7	To start listening now, go to pathanompodcast.com or search Key Battles of American History
1:00.1	on your favorite podcast platform.
1:02.4	Welcome to the History Unplugged Podcast,
1:07.7	the unscripted show that celebrates unsung heroes,
1:11.2	Mythbust's historical lies, and rediscoveres the forgotten stories that changed our world.
1:17.8	I'm your host, Scott Rank.
1:20.7	Hi, everyone. Welcome to one of those in-between episodes,
1:27.5	where I answer any question that you throw at me.
1:29.4	We're doing a special series on this podcast, Alternate History Week,
1:33.0	kind of like Shark Week.
	...

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