Find a way that turns Indonesia into a christian country. How would that change history?
A Christian Empire spanning through all of middle east the way Islamic Caliphate did IOTL.
...or, make Christianity thrive in South India.
I thought about a predominantly christian instead of muslim Indonesia.
Could Indonesia being a Spanish or Portugese colony make this possible?
actually, Islam became dominant in Indonesia because dutch support. In fact, in many places Islam is quite recent. without the acquiescence, and often active support, of the dutch islam would never have been so important.
At the time the dutch arrived islam had only been in Indonesia for 2 centuries and was only just beginning to form strong roots. Convert the urban traders and wipe out the royal centres and the basis for islam is just gone.
So, just have the Dutch decide to spread christianity themselves rather than support islam.
Alternatively, if the Portuguese took control of the archipelago you could have the inquisition solve your problem.
Perhaps St. Thomas? If he can go from Palestine to India (presumably by land) than he could possibly go to Indonesia by boat and convert the natives.
My other suggestion would be a greater Axumite trade influence, or Nestorian Christianity. Or even Orthodox/Persian Christianity if the Sassanids are butterflied and Christianity overtakes the ossified elitist Zoroastrian structure.
How would that change history?
Have Aradashir choke on a pomegranate seed. The Parthians will still probably come apart, but they won't be replaced by the Sassanids.How does one butterfly the Sassanids?
Have Aradashir choke on a pomegranate seed. The Parthians will still probably come apart, but they won't be replaced by the Sassanids.
You could probably wait until Shapur II. He was responsible for re-energizing Zoroastrianism.