How would you capitalize on today's knowledge if taken back to 1500AD.

[Brigandier]

I'd change a musket to a rifled barrel and tell them that rats are spreading plauge. This would make me a rich and well known man. Lastly I would introduce the idea of shaving the beaver; I am sure those medieval broads had some seriously thick, fibrous bush going on down there. Since I'd use my celebrity status to bang so many of those ladies, I'd want that taken care of.

Waxing, my friend.

 

[Linflas]

I'd change a musket to a rifled barrel and tell them that rats are spreading plauge. This would make me a rich and well known man. Lastly I would introduce the idea of shaving the beaver; I am sure those medieval broads had some seriously thick, fibrous bush going on down there. Since I'd use my celebrity status to bang so many of those ladies, I'd want that taken care of.

Actually if you really wanted to do a 16th century woman a big favor you would "invent" the disposable sanitary napkin.

 

[darkxshade]

I would become a "doctor". Even a layman's knowledge of medicine would be far in advance of anything they knew in the 1500's regarding bacteria and the importance of a sterile environment in dealing with common injuries.

Like what?


I considered medicine as a good route to go but then I thought how exactly would you diagnose and treat a patient? The diseases they faced in that era were pretty nasty stuff. So unless you meant to say you'd be a glorified specialist in bandaging injuries in a clean way, I'm not sure what else more you could do medicine wise if you had no prior expertise in this field.

 

[nageov3t]

I could probably invent sliced bread. I'd need help, but I think I could reasonably invent a contraption that involved a series of evenly-spaced knives descending onto a loaf of bread.

also, I know how to distill alcohol... I could invent moonshine 😀

 

[Via]

Where would I be (appear)? Europe? Africa? North America?

1500 AD, so European contact with the new world had just happened. I would play that angle for sure.

Maybe I'd go back with the knowledge of precious metal deposits somewhere (such as the California Gold rush locations) and begin by making a fortune that way.

 

[tk149]

I'm going to man up and admit that, as an Asian guy who doesn't speak the local language, I'd be fvcked at best, and burned as some kind of devil at worst.

What happens when a whole American town gets thrown back in time?

http://1632.org/

In April of the year 2000, a six-mile sphere centered on Grantville, West Virginia was displaced in space and time to Germany and May, 1631. The inhabitants of Grantville decided to start the American revolution early; the nobility of Europe were not amused.

 

[Zebo]

Actually if you really wanted to do a 16th century woman a big favor you would "invent" the disposable sanitary napkin.

And a razor. I don't like bald but no 70's pron either.

 

[darkewaffle]

Can't I just go back 15 years instead of all the way to the 1500s? That'd be a lot more comfortable.

 

[JS80]

I work metal now. I'd immediately go to work as the blacksmith's apprentice. Instant roof over my head and food, and access to the best tech of the day with the ability to use that to build modern tech.

How would you do that without DIY youtube videos?

 

[AstroManLuca]

read A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court for my answer

 

[skyking]

How would you do that without DIY youtube videos?

read the first sentence there sparky. 🙂

 

[Brigandier]

read the first sentence there sparky. 🙂

Lol, it's true that everyone's best bet would be to find a tradesman and apprentice under him for awhile. I'd try to find a bricklayer at first, and eventually track down the free masons. Attempt to catch their eye, and profit. Anyone that got seriously good at their trade would probably get offers from them though. It's kinda like the ultimate old school promotion.

 

[chitwood]

you are all kidding yourselves, not a single one of you would last a week without your cellphone, car, internets.. not to mention heat, electricity, running water

 

[child of wonder]

Like what?


I considered medicine as a good route to go but then I thought how exactly would you diagnose and treat a patient? The diseases they faced in that era were pretty nasty stuff. So unless you meant to say you'd be a glorified specialist in bandaging injuries in a clean way, I'm not sure what else more you could do medicine wise if you had no prior expertise in this field.

I'd be willing to bet that someone who knows enough to ensure sanitary conditions, not to "bleed" patients to remove "bad blood," etc. would have at least as successful healing rate of conventional doctors of the time.

 

[gophins72]

problem is we woudln't speak the language. any language. even english is much different now than back then. as americans, we have a hard time speaking with scottish in today's age.


edit: and OP needed the disclaimer at the end of his post "I have only done this once before"

 

[PingSpike]

Quoting this for stupidity and ignorance. AD does NOT mean "after death" lol.

Well, you learn something new every day.

 

[sourceninja]

Just make sure you can take this with you.

 

[Zebo]

Lol, it's true that everyone's best bet would be to find a tradesman and apprentice under him for awhile. I'd try to find a bricklayer at first, and eventually track down the free masons. Attempt to catch their eye, and profit. Anyone that got seriously good at their trade would probably get offers from them though. It's kinda like the ultimate old school promotion.

Almost any of us would lead the world in medicine. Just boiling water would go a long way to prevent many ailments. Hygiene is another. They knew nothing of microbes, you do. they knew nothing of transmission you do. Best thing would be convince them that you're a doctor to get things started and go from there. Not a friken brick layer. Those boys knew how to work we don't and would be quickily fired.

 

[Perknose]

I'd do two things. I'd breed dogs and horses for money. And, since Gutenberg was only a few decades dead but neither he nor his invention had gained much popular fame yet, I'd take my breeding profits and use them to buy/construct several printing presses and become the media mogul of the 16th century!

Four words: Religious porn, profusely illustrated. :biggrin:

 

[Fritzo]

I've often thought about this, and I think I would do pretty well. I know how to make penicillin. I know how to make precision tools such as thermometers, barometers, microscope, telescope, compass, etc.

The main problem would be getting raw materials. Also as mentioned, the language barrier would be difficult to overcome- you would have to learn a whole new language, all the while not exposing yourself as being "weird."

If I could bring some kind of rechargeable information device (like a Kindle or something) to keep an encyclopedia, I'd be set 🙂 I think I could make a hand cranked dynamo to recharge it.

 

[Chaotic42]

I'd probably become a doctor. My current job existed then, but it wouldn't be any fun to do, I'd imagine. I'd have to stay low and avoid the Catholic Chruch.

 

[darkxshade]

I'd be willing to bet that someone who knows enough to ensure sanitary conditions, not to "bleed" patients to remove "bad blood," etc. would have at least as successful healing rate of conventional doctors of the time.

Not that I know enough about medicine of that time but if there are any "conventional doctors" already, then you're not setting yourself apart. What would you accomplish simply by knowing what not to do because that's only half the solution IMO. So you know not to bleed bad blood... a patient comes to you say with a bad rash of some sort, what do you do? How do you diagnose them? How do you treat them? How do you protect yourself from infection? You may be as clean as you can be but it's not like there were any had latex gloves or clean rooms for you to operate in. Acquiring [anti-bacterial] soap was probably a challenge in of itself.

 

[Zebo]

I've often thought about this, and I think I would do pretty well. I know how to make penicillin. I know how to make precision tools such as thermometers, barometers, microscope, telescope, compass, etc.

The main problem would be getting raw materials. Also as mentioned, the language barrier would be difficult to overcome- you would have to learn a whole new language, all the while not exposing yourself as being "weird."

If I could bring some kind of rechargeable information device (like a Kindle or something) to keep an encyclopedia, I'd be set 🙂 I think I could make a hand cranked dynamo to recharge it.

I can read 16th century English just fine.

 

[Zebo]

I'd probably become a doctor. My current job existed then, but it wouldn't be any fun to do, I'd imagine. I'd have to stay low and avoid the Catholic Chruch.

That's where power is at, that's who will save you for actually being able to read when 99.99% can't, that's who will have to save you from ignorant mobs who see's silver and gold in your white teeth and being a foot taller than everyone.

 

[PingSpike]

Almost any of us would lead the world in medicine. Just boiling water would go a long way to prevent many ailments. Hygiene is another. They knew nothing of microbes, you do. they knew nothing of transmission you do. Best thing would be convince them that you're a doctor to get things started and go from there. Not a friken brick layer. Those boys knew how to work we don't and would be quickily fired.

It's true about the hard work thing. All of would most likely be fired for being lazy and weak. But I don't see how I can just show up and claim to be a doctor when most people will assume I'm a strangely dressed retard. They'll continue to take the sage advice of the established medical professions who bleed them with leeches and give them elixirs that contain arsenic or lead as cures because they have nice robes, references and sound intelligent.

It's true the basic knowledge of germs and sanitation would be the most easily implemented and beneficial things your average person sent back in time would know though. I just don't know how you could get into a good position to leverage it. Maybe I could sell my sneakers and teeth to get started.