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  1. Monotheism without institutional violence?

    Polytheist 'pagans' tended to be religious tolerant, seeing other pantheons as the same as their own, merely worshipped under different names and with different rituals (this 'assimilatio' was sometimes erroneous, such as that of Lug and Wotan with Mercurius, and of Thor as Mars rather than...
  2. No Abrahamic religions or Buddhism

    Jews were henotheists before the return of their elites from the exile in Babylon (and in the book of Jeremiah, written or at least edited then, many Jews are still worshipping the 'Queen of heaven') , so without Zoroastrianism you butterfly away the 3 religions of the Book. Not sure: pagans...
  3. Leonardo Da Vinci's Tank

    The 'best' possible use for Leonardo's tank would be as a support battery if, brought once in position (with the help of oxen or horses) it would be able to rotate like a merry-go-round. Thus while one of the guns was firing the others would be in the process of progressively reloading, allowing...
  4. AHC: Thai elephant offer accepted by Lincoln

    OTL jingal elephants were in use for centuries in India and the neighboring area; never as numerous or widespread as zambereck camels and not in so extended use but not uncommon. So it would be theoretically possible to mount a gatling on elephants' backs, and seemingly they could be...
  5. Invention of the accordion

    Given that the accordion unfortunately displaced and replaced the bagpipe :( (French 'musette' : popular dancings are still called 'bal musette' though the major instrument is an accordion for more than a century now) and the hurdy-gurdy :mad:, I'd personally ask: how the invention of the...
  6. AHC: Satanism as a state religion

    -1°) Have Marcionism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcionism become mainstream Christianism: since Marcion saw the God of Israel as a false god, not far from Ahriman, tenants of 'original' Christianism still worshipping the God of Abraham couls pass as 'Satanists'. -2°) A sect follows an...
  7. A world with out Eugenics?

    As already mentioned eugenics have nothing to do with the theory of evolution and the knowledge of genes. Eugenics are merely the application to humankind of practices of animal and plant breeders for tens of centuries. The idea of purposely 'breeding' strong and obedient workers...
  8. Cool and Interesting Alternate Migrations

    I like this one. Instead of moving to Brittany, I suppose? Fleeing the Saxons (Englishmen are still called 'Saozon' in Brezhoneg) and seeking haven in Avalon (where Arthur is waiting for them) / Hy Brasil / Saint Brendan's Isle of the Blessed.:)
  9. AHC: Popular Neopaganism

    Given that the topic is neopaganism a POD having Julian successfully reforming a syncretic paganism and eradicating Christianism doesn't count. Then I can't see neopaganism emerging -as OTL- before the late 19th C. impulsed by the combination of romanticism and nationalism. Previously...
  10. AHC: Popular Neopaganism

    "I doubt you could have popular paganism unless it gets mixed with nationalist sentiment. Perhaps maybe a radical appeal to "the Old Ways" with some changes." Probably (though Wicca appears to be devoided of any nationalist or racist connotation), but doesn't have to be fanatical to Nazi...
  11. AHC: Popular Neopaganism

    The Goddess Reason was of 'Roman' inspiration :) but references to Ancient Greece and Rome are of 'elitist' nature, I can't see them as the basis of a popular cult (except in Greece and Italy respectively, maybe? But even so... Italy and Greece are specially 'devout Christian' countries). With...
  12. AHC: Popular Neopaganism

    A synergy of romanticism with emerging nationalism? Thus, a syncretism of a 'Walter Scott' vision of 'traditional' Catholicism (with the biological triad Father - Mother - Son, not that dissimilar to the Osiris - Isis - Horus one, and most popular prayers addressed to benevolent Mary, at the...
  13. Was the French Revolution inevitable by 1780?

    While militarily not as degenerated as the Janissaries at the end of their history the Gardes Françaises were no longer worthy of their seniority over all 'line' infantry regiments : still adequately drilled by their NCO for parades, but having repeatedly broken during the War of Austrian...
  14. AHC: Neutral Superpower

    That's was my first idea: an panislamic theocracy Caliphate combing the wealth of Irak, Saudi Arabia, Qatar... with the nuclear capacity of Pakistan and the entire Muslim population from Morocco to Pakistan would hate equally the Satans of the West and the East. But the Shia / Sunni division...
  15. Challenge: European caste system

    OTL it almost happened (theoretically if not in practice) at least in France when around the An Mil several theologians, specially the bishops Gerard of Cambrai and Adalberon of Laon, resurrected the 3 'functional' classes of the Gallic society described by Caesar (druids, 'knights' / noble...
  16. AHC: Most Dystopic Modern Great Power Possible

    Just to stir the pot... - 1 : slavery can exist under another name (debt bondage for instance, or some forms of marriage); - 2 : mass executions to enforce the conversion of the survivors is a form of human religious sacrifice: opens diverse possibilities; - 3 : cannibalism doesn't have to be...
  17. AHC: Blue the Color of Revolution instead of Red

    Green as the color socialism? Would make sense (to stay within the traditional 'Western' colors code) since green is associated with the '3rd function', theoretized again by the medieval theologians as the 'Laborantes' ('those who work') and still defining the 'Third Sate' in 1789 France. But...
  18. AHC: Blue the Color of Revolution instead of Red

    Red is associated with socialism, blue rather with (republican) revolution. Remember there were not many heraldic colors, and fewer corresponding to cheap dyes. Strong, durable yellows are expensive, and until the late 19th C. greens faded away quickly. Leaving mostly white, blue and red. Both...
  19. What should be the best architectual infuence for an ancient city in Northern Europe?

    Stone buildings derived from these wooden ones (Vsevolod Borisovich Ivanov art: I know, they are of 'mythical' Russian style, but the earliest Rus were Swedes, so...):
  20. Rank Insignia and Uniforms Thread

    An interesting, original combination of colors. Could you tell us more about the regiment, the army it is part of, the imagi-nation it serves? I'm tempted to fancy it a Huguenot regiment, the white waistcoat a remembrance of the white shirt (camisa is Southern French) worn by the Camisards above...
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