If you were sent back in time to the bronze age...

[Jonte_1979]

What knowledge would you be able to share with the people? What would you be capable of constructing?

[rasputin1952]

1. I find it interesting that you would choose...

The Bronze Age. Life expectancy was pretty low, and that is without the wars.

I would find it easier to go for a quid-pro-quo situation. I would love to be able to ask questions and find out some of their knowledge as well. We often look upon those from the distant past as somewhat, 'dimmer' that we are. But it must have taken quite a bit of brainpower to learn metallury, math and decent building techniques.

To answer your question as to what knowledge I dissipate: basic lifesaving skills; microbiology; builing skills; better tools; and above all, how to grow coffee and brew it up.

[TheBigGuy]

2. id invent toliet paper.

firs things first!

[Generic Other]

3. The Heimlech Manuever?

I realize I would be all talk and no action. Pretty damn useless.

"Yeah, sure the Parthenon will look great with electricity. You want to know how to make it? Uh...

yeah, yeah combustion engine...cooler than a horse and chariot...how does it work? It burns gas...and you drive...well...it's kinda complicated...

hey you guys heard of refrigeration...uh uses freon or something..."

Guess my best bet would be to bring some tarot cards and become a fortune teller.

[Interrobang]

4. I'd stick to the basics, you know...

--Alphabetical instead of syllabaric writing systems (of course, that would depend on *where* I landed in the Bronze Age -- mucking about with Hebrew and giving it actual vowels instead of mostly implied or diacritic vowels would be neat, as would giving the Ainu their own writing systems) -- of course, that's strictly because I'm biased and think that alphabetical writing systems are more efficient and communicate better, but still;

--theories on sanitation, and I'm a pragmatist, so if I had to explain it in terms of "disease demons hate soap" (which I also know how to make), I would;

--zero;

--stirrups and other advanced techniques of horsemanship;

and anything else I found practical, depending on what knowledge I had and how it fit in culturally and contextually. After all, there's a big difference between finding yourself among Bronze Age Greeks, or Celts, or Angles, or Mayans, or ...

[Shanty Oilish]

5. Definitely the toilet

I could show them plumbing. And tell them where aluminum is and the basics of oil and steel. I'd tell them about penicillin and germs, optics...tell them Eratosthenes was right about the circumference of the earth, give them good maps and explain how to determine longitude. Get them to America. For starters. :)

[The Lone Liberal]

6. I would teach them Double-entry Bookkeeping.

Then stock options for employees. Then I would share the greatest invention of them all “Corporate Bankruptcy.”

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. I'd reinvent the wheel for them.

But make it better than the Flintstones did.

[Coolliberal]

8. Scotch Ale!

At least it would make life a little better!

[SPICYHOT]

9. I'll probably teach dance to the guys!

:party:

[Ashes]

10. I'd be lucky to remember

to unclench my fist before trying to pull the termites through that damn hole.

[oneighty]

11. I would beg them

to teach me how to survive in their world.

That is what I would do.

180

[Duncan Grant]

12. Sociology and Anthropology...

because it would make for some great evenings of conversation! It would probably have a huge influence on political thinkers as well.

Astronomy and Navigation would be much more practical but what the hey, let's live a little!

[TXlib]

13. Here's a great read if you like this topic:

Island in the Sea of Time
Against the Tide of Years
On the Oceans of Eternity

All by S.M. Stirling