BellaOnline Forums Education History What era in history would you like to visit?

If you could travel back in time and visit one era in history, any place in the world, what era would it be and where?

My pick would be Victorian England, because I am fascinated by the Victorian Era for reasons I am yet to figure out. I suppose my fascination is mostly in the clothing and the design. I would also love to see Ancient China and the building of the Great Wall.

I also love Victorian England :O)

I had many thoughts jump to mind when I read the question. I love history and even have a BA in history. I love reading about several different time periods, like Colonial times (love Colonial Williamsburg), pre-Civil war south, pioneer era in the Pacific Northwest, and Europe during WWII.

However, when I really thought about LIVING in those times, not sure I'd want to. If I could visit for just a few days, any of the above would be great. I'd like to see how the times are alike or different from what I've read about.

What a great book that would make!

I don't think that I would like to go too far back in time for exactly the reason that Joan mentioned. The living conditions would be very harsh compared to what we are comfortable with now.

If I could only visit for a few hours, I would like to see a pyramid being built and see how the Egyptians actually lived.
If I was staying longer, the 1950's would be my choice. It was an exciting time with rock and roll becoming popular and post- war changes.

Without a doubt, the 1950s would be my choice. Elvis and Ricky Nelson live appearances and flattering shirt waist dresses might make up for having to dress up in hat, gloves and pearls to go to the grocery store and possibly having a new baby every year!

I love movies and books and the clothing of Victorian England, but with my luck, the time machine would not take care of issuing Royal status and I don't think I'd enjoy being a peasant.

Take it from someone who was around in the 50's - it was, for the most part, quite boring.

I'd like to visit ancient Egypt - 4th and 18th Dynasties.

The roaring 20s!

This is a really good question. At first my thoughts were all over the place, but now I'm thinking along the lines of what joan and chloe were saying. Hm.

But I guess the key word is "visit." If I'm just visiting, and I'd come back here after the visit was over, I think I might want to check out Industrial Revolution-era London -- say, the 1820s or 1830s.

I was born in 1958 and was encouraged by my parents to go to University...I have a successful legal career, happy marriage, enjoy lots of travel, a rich social life and financial security.
When I think about life for women in the 40s, 20s, 1870s, 1700s - I see limited opportunities for education and employment, no reliable birth control, little or no independence, the stigma of being a "spinster"...no thanks, I wouldn't have survived when my choices were so limited - spinsterhood and living with my parents or marriage and having a baby or miscarriage every year of my reproductive life. (with no effective pain control, epidurals, caesarean sections)
If you married well you painted, sewed, played the piano and had children....if you married an ordinary man you had a life of backbreaking work and kids...
In those days there were no labour saving devices...you made your own cheese, cream & butter, wood burning stoves, baking bread and everything else, coppers and hand wringers, washing nappies by hand etc...
My great grandmother had 10 children - her first at 20...her last at 46...no doubt, miscarriages in between...she also, had a stillborn son at 43 - what a hard life! Her husband was a dairy farmer so, she helped milk the cows, ran the house and cared for her kids.
I like/need to be in control of my life - I'm independent and opinionated...
I feel fortunate to have been born in a time that offered options, choices & opportunities for females - and that my working class parents were open minded enough to encourage me to "reach for the stars"...

If I were visiting - maybe...India during the days of the British Raj - gin & tonic on the verandah at 4pm, the long lunches and dinners, the train journeys, English afternoon tea, dressing for dinner, safaris to view (not shoot) tigers and elephants...the interesting sights, architecture and culture...Indian food...sounds very exotic...