Where Would You Like To Have Lived...

[NedimNapoleon]

I voted the Balkans, thinking of Constantinople [Istanbul, Carigrad...whatever] Turks are fairly developed, probably has public bathes, public fountains, good public health and hygiene, if your a muslim you could do fairly well even as a peseant (bigger taxes and worse life for other religions and the unability to rise through the ranks) since I'm a student now I would most likely be a kid from Bosnia that was taken into Devşirme and brought to the Ottoman capital to recieve education to become a scholar, Jannisary, Spahi...

 

[Joecoolyo]

I'd probably be a middle class merchant of sorts, so I went with China, where I can make a relatively good pay.

The Ottoman Empire/Middle East/Indian Subcontinent also sound like good places for merchants during this era.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

2 pages without a USA #1 ??

 

[Tahuti]

The Ottoman Empire, with honourable mentions for Venice and England.

 

[Cutlass]

Probably one of the northern Italian cities. That's where the intellectual action was going on.

 

[Disgustipated]

Of course I've thought about my overall health today, and I'm not so sure I'd live very long in 1492 without modern medicine. Although maybe my health is poor because of the pollution and second hand smoke I'm exposed to. But nevertheless, the disease comment above got me thinking I wouldn't survive 5 years with 1492 diseases still roaming around. Although the upside is I have all my shots.

 

[madviking]

I'd probably still be some pot-smoking engineer (or to be period realistic, an artisan), but this time in Amsterdam, Brugges, or Antwerpen.

 

[bhsup]

I'll go with Australia and be an Aborigine! Not that I know anything substantial about them and really know how their live and culture went, but no concept of time sounds fun! + They were hunter-gatherers if I am not mistaken and as this other thread demonstrated, those guys were better off than agricultural societies.
Also I'd would be black and could invent hip hop.

Nooooooooo! Listen, really, Australia was where God put everything he decided should be marooned and away from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, humans found his dumping ground 50K years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funnel_web_spider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_back_spider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_snake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_snake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_bear

I'm trying to save your life here. DO NOT GO!

As for me. I pick Scandinavia. I love the cold.

 

[aronnax]

I would choose to live in Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty. Let's say I live for another 60 years so I'll die in 1552. China didn't really start to suck until the late 1570s.

I'll live far from the Mongol raids, in a comfortable and agriculturally rich area. I'll probably be a merchant trader, a minor official working in the bureaucracy or a restaurant owner.

 

[Crezth]

Nooooooooo! Listen, really, Australia was where God put everything he decided should be marooned and away from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, humans found his dumping ground 50K years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funnel_web_spider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_back_spider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_snake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_snake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_bear

<snip>
I'm trying to save your life here. DO NOT GO!

Best argument against living in Australia ever, really. *shudder*

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Only argument actually

 

[aronnax]

Only argument actually

All the Australians seem to be the other one.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Actually truth be known , I'm done with the place and intend to be retired in Asia very shortly

 

[Eat_Up_Martha]

It was a tough call between 'Rest of North America' and 'Central Asian Steppes' but I settled on NA because I'm not much good with horses.

What's not to love? Live outdoors, plenty of exercise, hunt and fish all day and have sex all night.

 

[Whiskey_Lord]

Any place that's irreligious, if that's even possible at this time. I need a vacation from this crap.

 

[Disgustipated]

every place has religion and/or superstitious spiritual crap. There is no escaping it.

 

[kochman]

Italy... the Renaissance!

 

[Traitorfish]

every place has religion and/or superstitious spiritual crap. There is no escaping it.

 

[Algeroth]

The Bohemia Kingdom is nearly one hundred years past its prime and the whole Holy Roman Empire is starting to stagnate with religious wars looming on the horizon. So, it would be either Northern Italy and renaissance for me or betraying my fellow Christians and serving in the Istanbul at the golden age of Ottoman power. I'm sure as a scholar in both political philosophy and natural science could made a decent living.

I haven't been fan of medieaval France, the England was dirt poor till the 17th century, Japan is in the midst of long period of constant warfare And I don't know enough of S and SE Asia. But Safavids could have some potential, couldn't they? And is annorax sure with the Ming dynasty? I've always thought that the whole epoch was kinda... unfulfilling.

 

[Dachs]

The Bohemia Kingdom is nearly one hundred years past its prime and the whole Holy Roman Empire is starting to stagnate with religious wars looming on the horizon. So, it would be either Northern Italy and renaissance for me or betraying my fellow Christians and serving in the Istanbul at the golden age of Ottoman power. I'm sure as a scholar in both political philosophy and natural science could made a decent living.

So, you're worried about the religious warfare that's several decades away from hitting the Germanies in 1492, but you're completely unconcerned about the Italian Wars that are raging all over that peninsula right that freaking decade? And which will continue for the next sixty-odd years?