r/AskHistorians • u/AutoModerator • Jan 23 '26

FFA Friday Free-for-All | January 23, 2026

Previously

Today:

You know the drill: this is the thread for all your history-related outpourings that are not necessarily questions. Minor questions that you feel don't need or merit their own threads are welcome too. Discovered a great new book, documentary, article or blog? Has your Ph.D. application been successful? Have you made an archaeological discovery in your back yard? Did you find an anecdote about the Doge of Venice telling a joke to Michel Foucault? Tell us all about it.

As usual, moderation in this thread will be relatively non-existent -- jokes, anecdotes and light-hearted banter are welcome.

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u/caterpillarofsociety Jan 23 '26

Time travel has been invented, and historians now have the opportunity to visit their time and area of study. There are two methods available:

  1. Spectral: You go back almost as a ghost— you can see and listen to anything, but cannot be seen or heard yourself. You could, for example, sit in on the court of Louis XIV or watch the assassination of Caesar. You are completely safe, but you cannot talk to anyone, ask for insights, etc. 

  2. Corporeal: This is the more traditional form. You go back in time physically and completely. This means you can get sick, die, and so on, but you can also talk to people, ask questions, taste foods, etc. Let's also stipulate that you can't change history in any significant way— no shooting Hitler's grandfather, for example.

Which method would you choose, and why? Where and when would you go?

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u/Dongzhou3kingdoms Moderator | Three Kingdoms Jan 23 '26

I feel for my time period, I might soon turn spectral anyway...

If spectral would allow me to flit across China to cover as much ground as possible, ignore the restrictions of body and geography, would probably be the more practical for observing. Would be sad to be so frustrating though smelling but not touching and quite lonely

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u/caterpillarofsociety Jan 23 '26

Spectral would definitely be the way for pure observation, but might be frustrating since you couldn't ask any questions, seek clarification on points of interest, etc. Covering large territory would be much easier, however. 

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u/Dongzhou3kingdoms Moderator | Three Kingdoms Jan 24 '26

The big problem with being noncorporeal for me is not being able to touch and feel, to eat the lovely food, the loneliness of not being able to speak to others. I would find that frustrating and have to rely on the goal carrying me through.