What If History Had Taken a Different Turn?
History is full of crossroads—moments when a single decision, invention, or accident could have reshaped the world as we know it. As someone who loves exploring the nuance behind historical narratives, I find myself drawn to these “what if” scenarios. They’re not just mental exercises—they reveal how fragile, contingent, and interconnected our past truly is.
Here are 13 historical what-ifs that fascinate me:
1. What if Jesus had written down his own teachings? Would Christianity look radically different if we had a direct written record from him? Perhaps theological disputes over interpretation would have been fewer—or maybe the written word would have been elevated above the relational, lived faith he modeled.
2. What if the Library of Alexandria had never been destroyed? The loss of this ancient knowledge hub set back human progress by centuries. With preserved texts from thinkers like Archimedes and Hypatia, we might have reached the scientific revolution in the Middle Ages instead of the 17th century.
3. What if the American Revolution had failed? Had Britain crushed the rebellion, the U.S. might resemble modern-day Canada or even be called Canada. It likely would still be democratic, but with a parliamentary system and a monarch. Slavery might have ended earlier under British rule, but independence movements around the world could have been delayed.
4. What if Martin Luther had been silenced before the Reformation? Without the 95 Theses, the Protestant Reformation might never have taken root. Europe could have remained under Catholic hegemony, delaying religious pluralism, literacy, and the rise of modern nation-states. There may have never been a Renaissance.
5. What if women had been allowed to vote from the founding of the U.S.? Imagine a U.S. Constitution that recognized women’s voices from the start. Policies on education, labor, and healthcare might have evolved decades earlier, and the feminist movement would have taken a very different shape. We might even have had a woman president by now.
6. What if the Black Death hadn’t devastated Europe? The plague killed up to 60% of Europe’s population, but it also dismantled feudalism and empowered the working class. Without it, the Renaissance might have been delayed, and the social order could have remained rigid for centuries.
7. What if Native American nations had formed a unified resistance to colonization? A pan-Indigenous alliance could have changed the trajectory of North America. Unified diplomacy or military resistance might have preserved more land, culture, and sovereignty—and forced European powers to negotiate rather than conquer.
8. What if the Axis powers had won World War II? A chilling thought: fascist regimes dominating Europe and Asia, with democracy extinguished in its cradle. The Holocaust might have continued, and the U.S. could have been partitioned or occupied.
9. What if the Cold War had turned hot? A nuclear war between the U.S. and USSR would have devastated the planet. Even a limited exchange could have triggered a nuclear winter, mass famine, and the collapse of civilization as we know it.
10. What if the internet had been invented in the 19th century? Imagine steam-powered modems and telegram-based memes. Early access to global communication might have accelerated civil rights movements—or enabled authoritarian surveillance long before Orwell imagined it.
11. What if the 9/11 attacks had been foiled? Without that tragedy, the U.S. might have avoided the War on Terror, the Patriot Act, and two decades of foreign conflict. Domestic politics could have remained less polarized, and Islamophobia might not have become so deeply entrenched. Maybe we would not have turned into the nation of hateful idiots that we seem to be now.
12. What if the Equal Rights Amendment had passed in the 1970s? The ERA would have enshrined gender equality in the Constitution, giving courts a stronger basis to strike down discriminatory laws. It might have changed the trajectory of reproductive rights, workplace equity, and LGBTQ+ protections. I wasn't old enough to vote on this, or even really to note that it was taking place and all that it entailed, but I certainly wish it had passed.
13. What if the Great Depression had been averted? Without the crash of 1929, the New Deal might never have happened. Social Security, labor protections, and financial regulations could have been delayed—or never implemented—leaving the U.S. more vulnerable to future economic shocks. The Greatest Generation might not have been so great, after all, and baby boomers may have never been born.
🔍 Why These What-Ifs Matter
These scenarios aren’t just idle speculation—they’re reminders that history is shaped by choices, accidents, and people who dared to challenge the status quo. Reflecting on them helps us better understand the present and imagine a more intentional future.
What historical what-ifs fascinate you?
📚 References
- Harari, Yuval Noah. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
- Ferguson, Niall. Virtual History: Alternatives and Counterfactuals
- Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel
- Tuchman, Barbara. A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century
- McCullough, David. 1776
- …and other reliable sources, including academic journals, documentaries, and historical archives.
*An AI tool helped me curate this list and find the sources*
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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 914th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
