====== Points of Divergence (PODs) ======

A “point of divergence”, often abbreviated as [[alternate history:ah_slang_and_acronyms|POD]], is simply the point in an alternate history where it first becomes different from real history. An alternate world matches [[alternate history:otl|our world]] up until the point of divergence, which is when it first becomes different and heads down an [[alternate history:atl|allohistorical path]]. In alternate history stories and scenarios, the point of divergence is often a single and easily identifiable change, and all other differences are intended to flow naturally from it. This is not always the rule, though, as there can also be multiple, not necessarily interlinked PODs as well, each of them of varying severity. 

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==== Overview of PODs by topic and theme  ====

**[[Agriculture]]**

**[[pods:Alternate Colonization]]**

**[[pods:Arts, Architecture and Monuments]]**

**[[pods:Economy and Trade]]**

**[[pods:Exotic PODs]]**

**[[pods:Famous People]]**

**[[Language and Linguistics]]**

**[[pods:Natural Disasters]]**

**[[Political Movements]]**

**[[pods:Popular Culture]]**

**[[pods:Religions]]**

**[[pods:Scientific Discoveries and Inventions]]**

**[[pods:Society and Societal Norms]]**

**[[pods:Specific Countries]]**

**[[pods:Sports]]**

**[[pods:Wars and Battles]]**

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==== Grab bag of interesting POD disussions ====

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=138450|Timeline Ideas]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=150601|Highly underused PODs with great potential]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=259026|Neglected areas of Alternate History]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=111620|Things that often get ignored in timelines...]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=286354|Various possible PODs]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=49702|Underestimated countries]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=286474|Which defunct countries you would like to survive in an ATL 2.0]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=254601|Which country do you think deserves an alternate history wank ? (1)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=225943|Which country do you think deserves an alternate history wank ? (2)]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/underlooked-medieval-arabic-byzantine-pods.397315/|Underlooked Medieval/Arabic/Byzantine PODs]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=249970|The underdogs of pre-1900 history]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=258865|Weirdest, obscure countries in history ? Odd nations that we forgot.]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=268623|Victorian Era Dystopian Disscussion]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=54914|Non-people/country things in AH that are wanked]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/give-me-a-pod.409304/|Various pre-1900 PODs]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=61867|More successful New World empires]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=162510|If you could change one historical event, what would it be ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=227689|Most interesting pre-European PoD for America ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=251381|Very minor PODs]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=12489|"Insignificant" PODs]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=150975|10th-13th century PODs]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=307005|Challenge: Weirdest 19th century]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=257000|Fun 19th century PODs after 1815]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=286353|20th Century PODs]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=199254|What would you like to see in a 20th century cultural ATL ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=97022|Nineties PODs]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=286353|Various possible PODs I've found]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/whats-your-favorite-prehistoric-pod.378461/|What's your favorite prehistoric POD ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ah-recurring-tropes-and-the-timelines-that-avert-or-subvert-them.493881/|AH Recurring Tropes, and the timelines that avert or subvert them]]**

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==== See Also ====

**[[alternate_history:ah_slang_and_acronyms|AH.com's AH Writing Slang]]**

**[[alternate history:Alternate History Media]]**

**[[timelines:timelines_and_scenarios|Timelines and Scenarios Main Directory]]**

**[[resources:resources|Useful Resources for Writing Alternate History]]**

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==== Navigation ====

**[[:start|AlternateHistory.com Wiki Main Page]]**