New Reality Seeds

[PTTG]

A lot of modern-day crackpots like to point to the MWP as proof that modern warming can't be man-made. Of course, they conveniently ignore the fact that Europe, despite what it may think, is not the entire planet. It'd be interesting to make them right. Have something dump collossal amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere starting around 1000CE and have 1500CE be a desertified nightmare world.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by PTTG

A lot of modern-day crackpots like to point to the MWP as proof that modern warming can't be man-made. Of course, they conveniently ignore the fact that Europe, despite what it may think, is not the entire planet. It'd be interesting to make them right. Have something dump collossal amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere starting around 1000CE and have 1500CE be a desertified nightmare world.

Cool warming twist PTTG.

Another twist with weather is a world were the monsoons that where typical of Africa tens of thousands of years ago returned in the Medieval period. The effects would depend on how strong they were.

Weak monsoons that brought rains a short distance into North Africa could greatly strengthen the cultures of the Magreb and make the Corsairs, already a serious problem to the late Medieval and Early Modern West, into a civilization ending threat.

Strong monsoons that could create vast lakes and grasslands could also threaten to directly connect Europe with topical Africa's microfauna. Thus making Europe's population far less stable and radically limiting European agriculture at a highly vulnerable period.

[Astromancer]

Try this idea...

Historically gunpowder has been discovered multiple times and then lost or ignored. Given the multiple independent discoveries of gunpowder it seems all you need are the three commonplace ingredients and some form of alchemical tradition.

So, I simply suggest that an obscure Ionian Greek discovers gunpowder early in the Hellenistic period. By the time Rome starts to invade Greece the Legions are met by phalanx and artillery. Rome learns quickly, but so do the Gauls and others.

Basically use your favorite style of early modern warfare with Classical Antiquity. Or simply have a cluster of cultures with technological advancement forced by competition. Gauls, Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, all striving against each other and driving technological change.

Note: just because of the tech based change there's no reason to exclude magic if you enjoy it. A godswar driving the tech changes would be grand fun.

[AlexanderHowl]

The earliest that firearms could have been developed is TL 1, when you have the domestication of animals producing saltpeter (the only component of gunpowder that is difficult to gather in nature, as charcoal can form in forest fires and sulfur can be gathered around volcanic vents) meeting the development of bronze. While you would not have mass produced firearms, it would have not been possible for bronzesmiths to make individual firearms at TL 1. I imagine that iron would have never become that important in warfare, resulting in a divergence of technology at TL 1.

Imagine a world where the New Kingdom of Egypt discovered the secret of firearms and the pharaohs used a monopoly over the trade in sulfur to maintain their dominion. The New Kingdom of Egypt could have survived beyond 1000 BC, and it may have survived for another thousand years. The Egyptian Empire could have sought to control the supplies of copper, sulfur, and tin in the Mediterranean region and, if it succeeded, would have likely prevented the evolution of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

[tanksoldier]

Originally Posted by PTTG

A lot of modern-day crackpots like to point to the MWP as proof that modern warming can't be man-made. Of course, they conveniently ignore the fact that Europe, despite what it may think, is not the entire planet. It'd be interesting to make them right. Have something dump collossal amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere starting around 1000CE and have 1500CE be a desertified nightmare world.

Since there is evidence of climate change around the world during that time like China an the South Pacific you could stuff the snark and just let history play out differently from that point.

Other climate anomalies like the Roman warm period or Bronze Age warm period could be used as well.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

The earliest that firearms could have been developed is TL 1, when you have the domestication of animals producing saltpeter (the only component of gunpowder that is difficult to gather in nature, as charcoal can form in forest fires and sulfur can be gathered around volcanic vents) meeting the development of bronze. While you would not have mass produced firearms, it would have not been possible for bronzesmiths to make individual firearms at TL 1. I imagine that iron would have never become that important in warfare, resulting in a divergence of technology at TL 1.
...

You could use even clay or copper pots filled with black powder for even TL0 bombs.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

You could use even clay or copper pots filled with black powder for even TL0 bombs.

Babylonian grenades! KWEL!

[PTTG]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Babylonian grenades! KWEL!

Such early development of gunpowder would probably bypass the development of pike and shot and such things. In fact, it might lead to very early development of something like modern infantry tactics.

[AlexanderHowl]

Pikes existed during the 15th through 17th centuries, so they were contemporaneous to early firearms. What it would have likely done though is killed the idea of the sword, as the gun and not the sword would have been the weapon of choice. You would have probably had the spear and knife (and every other non-sword weapon) though, since they were cheap and easy to use. Other weapons that would have probably not been developed are ballista, crossbows, prodds, etc.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Pikes existed during the 15th through 17th centuries, so they were contemporaneous to early firearms. What it would have likely done though is killed the idea of the sword, as the gun and not the sword would have been the weapon of choice. You would have probably had the spear and knife (and every other non-sword weapon) though, since they were cheap and easy to use. Other weapons that would have probably not been developed are ballista, crossbows, prodds, etc.

It's not difficult to make gunpowder. It could have easily been introduced as early as TL 2. Anyone who could make bronze could make gunpowder if someone gave them the tip. It IS difficult to make something with the tolerances of a cannon much less a musket at that tech level.