alternatehistory.com

Important note: Please only choose ten out of twenty options in the poll, one of either "yes" or "no".

Just curious about what will the majority of AH.com think about those scenarios...

1. If Alexander the Great lived longer, could he conquer Rome and Carthage?
Yes, Rome and Carthage at that time were no match for Macedonian military might. Alex could draw upon the resources and manpower of the entire Greece, Egypt, and Persia. He will crush both cities in a few years.
No, Macedonian Empire has already reached its limit in OTL. More campaigns abroad means more chance for the rebellions. Alex will have to divide his attention and militaries to the campaigns and rebellions at home, which means his conquests will be doomed into a failure.

2. If the Romans were able to incorporate Germania into their empire, would that mean Roman Empire will survive much, much longer, even maybe into present day?
Yes, Migration Period will be butterflied away, which means the Mediterranean world and most of Europe will stay under Roman rule for much, much longer time than OTL. Not to mention the fact that Germania will develop into Roman population centres and manpower base.
No, larger Empire means larger problems too. Besides, it will be very hard at that time to transform Germania into some useful provinces. It will become a military and financial burden for the Empire.

3. Could the Muslims conquer Byzantine and Frankish Empire?
Yes, in OTL the Muslims just get a bad luck when trying to conquer both Empires. They could certainly bring the Balkans and Western Europe into Islamic spheres of influences.
No, they have already stretched themselves out in OTL. It's impossible to bring those two large realms into their Caliphate.

4. Could the Mongols conquer even more territories, like Western and Central Europe, Egypt, Japan, and South-East Asia?
Yes, OTL was not the best possibilities for the Mongols. Like the Muslims they just get some bad lucks.
No, it's practically impossible for the horse-based Mongol Empire to hold the restless and logistically bad territories like Western and Central Europe, Japan, or South-East Asia.

5. Was it possible for the Industrial Revolution to started in places outside Europe, like Middle East, India, or China?
Yes, butterflied away the Mongol conquests and you will get developed and advanced Abbasid Caliphate and Song Dynasty. They will more likely to industrialize than backwater Europe.
No, the Industrial Revolution was bound to happan in Europe, for some reasons like colonial expansion, abundance of coal, etc.

6. Was it possible for Native American states, either Inca, Aztec, or North American tribes, to survive from contact with the Europeans?
Yes, people like Cortez and Pizarro really get a huge amount of luck for their successes in the New World. Had something gone wrong at the initial contacts with Spain, it's largely possible for Native American states to survive form the Europeans.
No, the Native American states couldn't survive because of Old World's diseases, big technological gap with the Europeans, etc. Even if Cortez and Pizarro failed, in the long run the Native Americans are still doomed.

7. If the French won the Seven Years War, could they hold North America and India?
Yes, since they will get the best position to colonize North America and rule India.
No, in the long run Britain will maintain naval dominance, which means in the second round the French are more likely to get ousted. Not to mention the fact that British colonies were far more populated than the French ones.

8. Could Napoleon maintain French dominance over Europe?
Yes, if his invasion of Russia is a success, no one could ever challenge his rule over Europe. Not even the British.
No, sooner or later the rebellions across Europe and British blockade will strangle the French war efforts, and the Napoleonic Empire will be eventually broken apart.

9. If the Confederate States of America won the American Civil War, would it be able to become the great power of its own?
Yes, it needed some major efforts, but the CSA could possibly develop into a great power.
No, the economy based on slavery is always doomed in the long run. At best, it could become a Third World nation. At worst, it would be re-absorbed by its more industrialized and developed norther neighbour.

10. Was it possible for the German and Italian states to remain disunited until present day?
Yes, especially if the surrounding powers were willing to kept it that way. Maybe maintain them as vassals or buffer states.
No, the rise of German/Italian nationalism was inevitable. If it wasn't in 1870s-1880s, it will happen in other time eventually.
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