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Lately, my interest in the Eastern Iranian peoples of Antiquity has led me to float a few “Iranian Greece” scenarios on this forum. One that I’ve been seriously looking into is that of a “Scythian” Greece. What I’m envisioning is this: During the period of Scythian expansion between 800 BC and...

At the moment, I’m currently working on a scenario that I’d like some feedback on. It’s largely inspired by my personal interest in a constructed Indo-Iranian language with heavy Balkan influence. The POD is around 1800 BC. For whatever reason, a large wave of early Proto-Iranian speaking...

Lately, I’ve been mulling over an idea for a TL, inspired in no small part by current reading on Indo-Iranian languages. It seems that the Proto-Indo-Iranian peoples began to break up around 2000 BC, with the Indo-Aryan branch heading south into India and the Near East, and the Iranians...

My understanding is that this would be unnecessary, although I could be wrong. Prior to the Council of Trent, a marriage was considered lawful in the eyes of canon law so long as a couple pledged themselves to wed and consummated the union. The element of consent here is already obvious, given...

One interesting aspect of this POD is that, if Anne Boleyn carries the boy she miscarried in 1536 to term, as discussed here, he’ll be born after the death of Catherine of Aragon. This means that, unlike Elizabeth, in the eyes of Catholic Europe, he’s legitimate.

Pretty much what it says on the tin: How can we get an Italy dominated by the Samnites, with Rome either defeated and subjugated by them, or stillborn and never rising to power in the first place?

What is the scholarly consensus exactly on the Mandaeans? From the (very cursory) reading I've done, it seems that they're a Gnostic sect which was either a breakaway from the original followers of John, or else considers John to be their spiritual, if not actual, founder? I was thinking in...

It's been a while since I posted here, but lately, I've been mulling over an idea for a TL: What if Jesus had never been born, and instead, an alternate Abrahamic faith had been founded by St John the Baptist, that ended up taking the place of OTL Christianity? What would such a faith look like...

Pretty much what it says on the tin: What is the general scholarly consensus as to how late a dialect of Vulgar Latin was spoken in Sub-Roman Britain, at least in the more Romanized lowlands? I’m currently exploring some ideas for a possible TL and was wondering if Vulgar Latin would have been...

Just out of curiosity, how exactly would philosophy develop in Classical Antiquity if Christianity never came about? For our purposes, let's say Jesus was never born and no equivalent off-shot movement arises that gains the same traction in Judaism. From my understanding, there was a degree of...

This, pretty much. Even the kings of Castile who styled themselves as imperator in the twelfth century (Ferdinand I, Alfonso VI and Alfonso VII) did so only in relation to those lands won by conquest from the Arabs. It is my understanding that this was mainly a victory title of sorts used by...

I know that there have been various previous threads on this subject but, to my knowledge, they rarely seem to get past a few initial replies and discussion; and, as always, it’s sometimes good to start a fresh new look at any AH scenario. A surviving Princess Charlotte of Wales would certainly...

This is very interesting and I will acquire a copy as soon as I can. While I am aware of recent scholarship on the subject, I still have yet to delve deeply--it was my understanding that Sol, while certainly a Roman deity and not related to Elagabalus' oriental cult per se, was promoted as a...

Yesterday, I posted a thread concerning a POD here, in which Constantine is defeated and killed at Milvian Bridge. In the thread, I deliberately left out the question of religious policy, in order to not distract from the discussion. Here's what I'm considering as a scenario for a possible TL...

On a second point: It occurred to me that if Licinius feels compelled to move against Maximinus Daia first ITTL (as Daia did against him OTL after Maxentius' defeat), the over all result of the war may be very different. Licinius was a superior general, but Maximinus Daia was more than capable...

From what I've read (and I may be mistaken), I'm under the impression that Maxentius allied himself more or less officially with Daia and this compelled Licinius and Constantine to ally in opposition before Milvian Bridge. As to how active or committed Maxentius' support of Daia was, I am...

A good POD that I feel doesn't often get enough attention is the defeat of Constantine in 312 by Maxentius. I have browsed through many old threads here during the many years of my membership, and have noticed that the discussion often tends to get bogged down by questions of religious policy...

So, let's say Pompey et al win at Pharsalus and Caesar either dies or commits suicide shortly thereafter. If, against all odds, Pompey does not attempt to seize power long term, but instead introduces some necessary reforms with his allies and then retires in the manner of Sulla, what is the...

Excellent summary Gordius! As it so happens, I've actually already ordered a copy of E.T. Salmon, which should arrive by next week. Here's my thinking for a possible TL: A solid victory in the First Samnite War will mean that the Samnites occupy the fertile (and much more populated plains) of...

I've been considering a TL in which the Samnites rise to power in Italy and defeat the Romans for hegemony on the peninsula. A quick search has showed me that the topic has popped up here from time to time, but with little serious discussion in the past. My question is, what is the earliest POD...