AHC: The West doesn't become "modern"

[baltur2]

What changes would need to happen in History, to make a scene like this possible in 2019 New England in the USA, or Germany in Europe?

2019.12.16 20:00

Jacob bursts into his wooden cottage, a flaming torch in his hand.

"Miriam, Josef! Come quick and get the children, witchery is afoot in the neighborhood!"

Jacob's wife Miriam, eldest son Josef, and the little kids all aged below 10 burst out from the cottage and start following their Father through the slushy and snowy path which leads out of the village.

Their fur-covered and sewn-together leather hides only provide a small degree of cover from the harsh elements of weather. They are scared of what evil magic could be afoot in their village.

They huddle together in their escape from their ravaged settlement, Miriam lighting an oil lamp on the way. A real witch? A demon? Servants of Satan? How could this transpire? They have been good, God-fearing people, no funny business has happened in their family. Why their village? Why them? Is the great almighty God testing them like it has happened to Job?

They manage to reach Benedict's wagon, who was waiting for them at a path leading to the field. They climb into it, and start proceeding away from the madness. The children are huddling together in fear, while the adults are praying the Lord's Prayer.

 

[Analytical Engine]

Probably needs either a nuclear war, a supervolcano eruption, an asteroid strike or an orbital colony falling to Earth. Maybe a runaway robot revolt that collapses civilisation, which subsequently destroys itself.

Even under periods of "stagnation", technology still advanced.

 

[John7755 يوحنا]

For one thing, the concept that the 'pre-modern' Europe was as you described is perhaps a bit off. Such sensationalism was frequently discouraged by the Church and such supernatural occurrences would be brought to the local Church. This situation created a level of constant skepticism, anti-sensation and otherwise leveled educated opinions dispersed across Europe. In cases where sensation of this calibre occurred, we find the Church or monarch putting stops to it, at least in the Middle Ages.

In the Islamic world (also the West), we find similar things. Such issues as exorcism or supernatural incidents were taken not up in mass mobs, but to local legal scholars or to local emirs to deal with. Now, there was, like in Europe instances of lynching, especially of heterodox Muslims, especially Shi'a, but this was not due to a supernatural occurrence. More, such lynchings imposed dominance over a community and discouraged eccentricity or possible subterfuge.

It should be noted, in the first Western legal codes, namely in ancient Mesopotamia, lynchings and mass hysteria regarding witches or magic is banned. Rather, the legal codes dictate that only the king or some sort of high priest can rule on issues of magic or witchcraft. Demanding the accused brought to the king or the highest cleric for a ruling to be made. Never was there precedence for lynchings and sensationalism at least legally.

 

[Alex Zetsu]

As John pointed out your idea of "pre modern" Europe is a bit off.

But even though technology still advances during "stagnant" periods, places can still advance at different paces and fall behind. I mean in the year 830, the most technologically advanced civilization in the world with highest wealth per capita (I know archeologists can't measure GDP, but I bet we know who was number 1 if we could) was probably the Tang dynasty. Maybe you could make an argument for one of the Indian Kingdoms. But it was the East that was the best place to be for a commoner, and there is no particular reason Europe must catch up in the next millennium.

Heck, it's possible the West could stay stuck to the point where they need to copy stuff. A lot of algebra and fortification designs were copied from the Arabs because the Europeans realized the Arabs did all that better.

It would be funny to read a timeline where this happens, where China covers 25% of the globe, it's fleet ruled the seas, many states are economically tied with it, and Britain is Taisho Japan (The various British monarchs over a few decades got through this. Step 1: Oh look at all that stuff in the East. Why is Europe so backward? Why were we worshipping the Mediterranean countries for so long? Step 2: Copy everything Chinese! Step 3: Wait we need iron. We need coal. We need Grain. We need Cotton. We need stuff to buy tea. Not much of it is here but plenty of people in Western Europe and Africa have it. Well, we need that and they have it. Logically we must steal it)

 

[galanx]

A lot of algebra and fortification designs were copied from the Arabs because the Europeans realized the Arabs did all that better.

It would be funny to read a timeline where this happens, where China covers 25% of the globe, it's fleet ruled the seas, many states are economically tied with it,

That part sounds like Years of Rice and Salt