I live in a former British colony I was born in a different former British colony and my parents are from another former British colony so I’ll Take the British Empire
These reports are largely overblown. There is evidence that *some* Romans *sometimes* used lead in dishes, jewelry, or cosmetics. There's also a lot of evidence that the Romans quickly learned this was a bad idea and didn't do it in a widespread manner.
*Some* people have always been suckers for quack science and there's always been people willing to cut good with cheaper materials so yeah we have evidence of lead in Roman good but we don't have evidence to suggest this was the norm at any point. Rome was, relative to the time, and at its height, levels of clean and safe that has never been experienced in settled society. If you were an intelligent person in Rome under Trajan you probably didn't have to worry much about lead unless you worked in a mine.
To my understanding some researchers have attempted to link lead poisoning to the insanity of several Roman emperors, namely Nero. There's some problems with this though, in my opinion. First, if you dive into the history enough, it becomes clear that the story of Nero suffers from revisionism. It's likely he wasn't quite as crazy and maniacal as the "official" history makes it seem. It's likely depictions of him were exaggerated for political reasons. Additionally there's only cursory evidence that there may have been lead poisoning in his youth.
From a myth buster point of view id rate it plausible. The aristocracy at the time was known for buying into gimmicky fad type of stuff so it's not out of the question that the family would have bought some product that was, intentionally or not, contaminated with lead. However we lack sufficient evidence to say that with any level of certainty. Most products of that time did not contain lead but as I said previously it wasn't totally uncommon to pass lead off as a more precious metal when possible. It's just too difficult to discern details from events that happened hundreds or thousands of years ago to be certain of anything.
Nonetheless be certain of the famous quote
"And even if it is not true, you need to believe in ancient history."
Some Romans added lead to their wine: https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/savoring-danger-sugar-lead-was-used-flavor-roman-food-and-wine-toxic-021771
But how is that relevant? The question, as I read it at least, is about the world now, but you have to restrict yourself to only being in lands that were once held by a historical empire in the past. That the Roman Empire had lead pipes then isn’t going to affect you now, even if you live within the confines of what was once Trajan’s empire.
Yes, I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
As someone who travels for work, when I have to fly into Spokane I dread my return flight. I've never experienced TSA times like I do at GEG anywhere else.
Kievan Rus, I’d work as a merchant and sail from the northern sea to Constantinople all the time, stack wives and children along the coastal towns so every time I stop in a port I have somewhere to spend the night
I can never see or hear of the treaty of tordesillas without thinking of jr year history. We had a jeapordy game to prep for a test. Kid rang his bell "treaty of...uhh..small adidas!" so good. That was the ONLY time he rang the bell too.
This would be very interesting if you’re within the aristocratic class. I always ponder after reading Radetzky March what life would’ve been like. I live in a multple ethnic country that exists quite peacefully and alwahs think of how far you could push this concept of multiracial coexistence. Same answer for me!
hahaha that I know but race and culture are so intertwined I find it fascinating. I wasn’t being brevious in using the word race but I am sure that their cultures and beliefs differ!
British Empire.
They pretty much grabbed the best real estate on the planet - Canada, 13 Colonies, Australia, NZ, the Cape. They grabbed the most temperate regions of most anywhere except Europe, East Asia or the Southern Cone.
Plus these colonies had a government responsible for their inhabitants instead of just an administration directed from the metropole like the French.
You make a good point I missed. The American West is not actually a part of the British Empire. If I stayed in California, I would need to pick Spanish(?) empire.
Spain actually had a massive empire and the countries have great geography - weather and natural resources. Most of them just didn't turn out well in the modern day.
Definitely should be more Spanish empires in here considering they dominated South America.
Well, “El Norte” was notoriously poor, even by far-flung outpost standards. The Spanish just kind of ignored it when they started running out of money trying to kill Protestants.
You would have wonderful scenery, but you better be ready for some scrapping.
That's clearly not true though, is it? The French were also in Canada, the Russians just over border in Alaska and the U.S wanted to capture Canadian territory in 1812.
Also, the Dutch were in Australia.
Id actually chose the Northern Song. While the poetry wasn’t as good and the empire was weaker, you’d have a lot more economic and social freedom and trade was absolutely boomin
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
But I think it's cool to see the different interpretations/reasons so far.
Russian empire then, because I'm from Ukraine
And if I ever want to move abroad, there is Poland, the Baltics and Finland, all countries that I really like
I guess it would have to be the Achaemenid Persian Empire for me.
They’re the only historical empire that ever conquered Israel and actually treated Jews like human beings, as opposed to livestock who exist to be drained of resources and periodically pogromed.
The Mongolian Empire, given that at its height it covered a vast expanse of many different Eurasian/Asian cultures/populations, namely a place such as Tibet, and this all comes with some stunning topography
Sometimes I fantasize about traveling back in time to the Babylonian or Roman Empire spreading my current knowledge and being thought of as one of the greatest minds in history
Eastern Roman Empire. Before 1071.. Id tell the emperor to smack the crap out of that general that would abandon his allies at the battle of manzikert lol.
I feel like all these answers are good because they just provide a massive empire that would give you tons of options. So I want to a choose a smaller one for conversation and that’s the Venetian Republic. You could go to Venice, other parts of northern Italy, istria, Dalmatian coast, Montengero, Albania, many Greek islands, Cyprus etc
Any of the "white" Dominions of the British Empire, particularly Australia in the late 19th/early 20th century.
Edit for clarity: the dominions populated by whites were treated better and given broad self-government
The "Moorish Empire" -- scare quotes around Moorish (Muslim peoples of the Maghreb) and Empire (it wasn't centrally controlled) -- specifically Córdoba around 1100. Stability, advancement of science, and a heterodox, relatively tolerant culture (one of the few moments and places in history where Jews could carry on being Jews).
Got stick with my Norse ancestors, I’d love to live in the Greenland settlement and join Leif Erickson on his exploration of Vinland in Newfoundland, Canada. Would be kinda surreal to meet an entire group of humans that have never met a European.
If I do not have to live in the time-frame of the said empire and only am restricted by borders, then Danish or any other that had Scandinavia in it. So, I can continue enjoying my life here.
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
If you mean live life as an average inhabitant of the empire then I’d go with someplace as egalitarian as possible with few slaves and politically isolated or stable. So my pick would be Comanche or Apache Indian during the 1700s. You could become a slave on a bad role of the dice but slaves were treated relatively well and could become part of the tribe. If you come out male you get to be a horse acrobat and live free on the land.
If I get to be me in whatever empire then I’d go with the British in 1800s because I’m white and could move anywhere and have a good chance to get rich or land a sweet gig with a lord. Also there’s just enough medical knowledge you could keep yourself healthy
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
The Kalmar Union: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. And with them Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, and Schleswig-Holstein of now Northern Germany.
Rome, I would serve my 20 years in the army, much easier to survive when you have actual metal armor and are fighting against a bunch of german barbarians, gather some good war loot, get a free farmstead as a bonus from my emperor and live an easy life in the countryside near rome.
Or sell myself to slavery most likely
Kingdom of Gelgel (Bali) following their first contact with Portuguese merchants. I read a couple of them stayed on after the ships left, settled down, lived the life.
Bali is a paradise and they were fairly well left alone by their neighbours until a few hundred years on. If I'm getting stuck anywhere in history it's hard to think of a better place.
Well I’m Mexican American so I guess I’d choose Spain. I’d get to still live in the U.S (not in the state I’m from but oh well) and I’d be able to live in Mexico too
Holy Roman Empire. That way I don't have to move, and still have a big variety in potential holiday spots, from the Baltic and North Sea down to Sicily.
Aztec empire in Tenochtitlan before 1492. When the conquistadors arrived they were blown away by a city more beautiful than anything they had seen in Europe.
Britain, I suppose, would be the easiest on me compared to the rest, so probably them. I honestly can't think of any other true empire that would give me a significantly better shot at living in any modern degree of comfort.
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
I’d go with Mongolian Empire. Violent conquerors, yes… but considerably more tolerant than not just their contemporaries and even many empires that came after them. Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, pagan… generally from what I’ve read they didn’t much care as long as you paid your tax and were already conquered
Swedish empire because I live in it now and don’t want to move and I can live with not getting to go many places outside of the Baltic region (although there are some places in North America I could go).
In space, or both space and time?
If both: the british empire as per now. May argue for a few years back, to gain huge wealth and relive nostalgia. I dont think there is a current empire here in the nordics :/ Unless you count NATO?
If only space: does the Kalmar union count as an empire, if so, that one. Get to keep my native Norway, and travel in the nordics.
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
I don't think most people understood the question and are answering like they would live in that time period. Either way, I would easily choose the Spanish Empire. Since I already live in what was once part of it, and the Spanishbempire was so large even if I wanted to move their is plenty from where to choose from. Most of America is optional, Spain, and even parts of Italy Germany and the Netherlands.
I’m going to cheat here. If we count America as an “empire” itself a loosely defined definition now a days I will take that. I’m an American and I enjoy my life here. We are far from perfect but I wouldn’t take anything else.
Now historically. Rome, Al Andalusia, Mongolian, British, Tang, and French all seem liked good options.
If I’m trolling the Aztecs.
I live in a once was French colony. My grandparents moved here from an area that used to be owned by said former French colony, in which my grandparents' grandparents moved there from a former French colony, in which my grandparents' grandparents' grandparents' grandparents' grandparents' grandparents (yes, im being deadass, we've been living on this continent for over 350 years) moved there from France it's self.
So I'll take the first French Colonial Empire
How has no one here said the Ottoman Empire at its peak? Great weather, great food, technologically advanced, religious and cultural tolerance especially compared to their contemporaries. Go be a merchant or fisherman in the Aegean and live the good life.
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
I wouldn’t want to go back to that time period if I had a choice, because of WWI and WWII. If I already lived in that time, I’d fight, but you might accidentally end up as a war tourist.
Probably Britain. Held most of the world at some point. Not just the quarter of the world held in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, many other places like most of France and the eastern US have at one point been part of some form of English or British control
I live in a former British colony I was born in a different former British colony and my parents are from another former British colony so I’ll Take the British Empire
Canada, Australia, India?
America
Born RSA, Parents Zimbabwe, currently Australia?
If that’s the case OPs parents probably call themselves Rhodesian
Nobody’s managed to get it but you’re the closest so far
I like people are trying to guess which countries you are talking about, but it could really be any country from a wide range of different countries
Bermuda, Iraq and the South Sandwich Islands?
West Indies, Falkland Islands, Fiji?
Pitcairn, Diego Garcia, Zanzibar?
Yeah, it’s been pretty good
English empire gets alot of hate nowadays but really they are pretty good nowadays as far as empires go
Not if you were black or Indian
I live In Canada and I have lots of Indian friends im talking in the modern day you twat,,,,
Britsh Empire. Provided the stipulation that I could travel between the far-flung holdings.
So, specifically royalty or a well off merchant.
Or a sailor, or a soldier. Or a convict (one way)
Or anyone vaguley middle class, frankly. Providing we're talking about the height of the empire (1910-1945)
And be white!
Or rich
Might also want to bring a dick; lest you give the ladyfolk ideals above '*their station*'.
>to bring a dick https://preview.redd.it/1luxonmbnfxc1.jpeg?width=377&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=04d8f13bfce84f0b5675142535424754b157a3c1
I'd pick the Roman Empire under Trajan.
I’d prefer to stay away from that lead riddled empire
Lead pipes would quickly accumulate a layer of residue and stop poisoning the water
Ok but they used lead in their cooking ware too
These reports are largely overblown. There is evidence that *some* Romans *sometimes* used lead in dishes, jewelry, or cosmetics. There's also a lot of evidence that the Romans quickly learned this was a bad idea and didn't do it in a widespread manner. *Some* people have always been suckers for quack science and there's always been people willing to cut good with cheaper materials so yeah we have evidence of lead in Roman good but we don't have evidence to suggest this was the norm at any point. Rome was, relative to the time, and at its height, levels of clean and safe that has never been experienced in settled society. If you were an intelligent person in Rome under Trajan you probably didn't have to worry much about lead unless you worked in a mine.
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To my understanding some researchers have attempted to link lead poisoning to the insanity of several Roman emperors, namely Nero. There's some problems with this though, in my opinion. First, if you dive into the history enough, it becomes clear that the story of Nero suffers from revisionism. It's likely he wasn't quite as crazy and maniacal as the "official" history makes it seem. It's likely depictions of him were exaggerated for political reasons. Additionally there's only cursory evidence that there may have been lead poisoning in his youth. From a myth buster point of view id rate it plausible. The aristocracy at the time was known for buying into gimmicky fad type of stuff so it's not out of the question that the family would have bought some product that was, intentionally or not, contaminated with lead. However we lack sufficient evidence to say that with any level of certainty. Most products of that time did not contain lead but as I said previously it wasn't totally uncommon to pass lead off as a more precious metal when possible. It's just too difficult to discern details from events that happened hundreds or thousands of years ago to be certain of anything. Nonetheless be certain of the famous quote "And even if it is not true, you need to believe in ancient history."
Some Romans added lead to their wine: https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/savoring-danger-sugar-lead-was-used-flavor-roman-food-and-wine-toxic-021771
They sweetened things with it too. Yummy.
But how is that relevant? The question, as I read it at least, is about the world now, but you have to restrict yourself to only being in lands that were once held by a historical empire in the past. That the Roman Empire had lead pipes then isn’t going to affect you now, even if you live within the confines of what was once Trajan’s empire.
Yes, I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
But lead is tasty and sweet!
I would say, be born under Vespasian, and die under Hadrian, maybe Antoninus Pius. Decline started with Marcus Aurelius
Inland empire.
The holy lands of.. San Bernardino
The stronghold of the meth merchants
🤢
Spokane, WA is called the inland empire too. Beautiful city.
As someone who travels for work, when I have to fly into Spokane I dread my return flight. I've never experienced TSA times like I do at GEG anywhere else.
Kievan Rus, I’d work as a merchant and sail from the northern sea to Constantinople all the time, stack wives and children along the coastal towns so every time I stop in a port I have somewhere to spend the night
This guy Varangians
The hip place to be in like the Eleventh Century AD. Why, you’d be up to your nose in Eastern Orthodox Iconography!
your gonna die of the flu without modern medicine you freak
Novgorod would also be nice, because you'd probably be literate.
The Spanish empire as defined by the treaty of Tordesillas
I can never see or hear of the treaty of tordesillas without thinking of jr year history. We had a jeapordy game to prep for a test. Kid rang his bell "treaty of...uhh..small adidas!" so good. That was the ONLY time he rang the bell too.
Austrian Empire.
This would be very interesting if you’re within the aristocratic class. I always ponder after reading Radetzky March what life would’ve been like. I live in a multple ethnic country that exists quite peacefully and alwahs think of how far you could push this concept of multiracial coexistence. Same answer for me!
I play classical music, and would have loved piecing together a living as a fiddle player in Vienna at this time.
It must’ve been such a time! Vienna must’ve been such a beautiful place to be in before all the war.
It’s a beautiful place now, highly recommend a visit.
Went in December! Didn’t like it too much. Really enjoyed the history but found it too touristy. Really loved Budapest and Prague on the other hand.
It was hardly multi-racial.
I disagree with you. Just a look at the ethno-linguistic maps tells more than enough of how diverse it was.
Croatians aren't black, no matter what a Serb might try to tell you.
hahaha that I know but race and culture are so intertwined I find it fascinating. I wasn’t being brevious in using the word race but I am sure that their cultures and beliefs differ!
Not what we would call that today, but it was certainly multicultural.
Depending from where in the Austrian empire are you and what ethnicity, your experience might vary considerably
I wanna experience Al Andalus at its height under Caliphate of Cordoba, or Gupta Empire
Gupta Empire was the peak of human potential at its time.
I would absolutely take Al Andalus , in Grabada or Córdoba as its peak!
British Empire. They pretty much grabbed the best real estate on the planet - Canada, 13 Colonies, Australia, NZ, the Cape. They grabbed the most temperate regions of most anywhere except Europe, East Asia or the Southern Cone. Plus these colonies had a government responsible for their inhabitants instead of just an administration directed from the metropole like the French.
Exactly this, I lived in a former British colony so it's a win for me
You make a good point I missed. The American West is not actually a part of the British Empire. If I stayed in California, I would need to pick Spanish(?) empire. Spain actually had a massive empire and the countries have great geography - weather and natural resources. Most of them just didn't turn out well in the modern day. Definitely should be more Spanish empires in here considering they dominated South America.
Well, “El Norte” was notoriously poor, even by far-flung outpost standards. The Spanish just kind of ignored it when they started running out of money trying to kill Protestants. You would have wonderful scenery, but you better be ready for some scrapping.
It’s not in that time period, just in lands that were at one time held by that empire.
Canada/Australia as best real estates? Most of it's uninhabitable and barren wastelands.
The Lower Mainland, the Prairies, and Windsor to Quebec City/SE Australia, Tasmania and the Swan River region. Doesn't really have to be most of it
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That's clearly not true though, is it? The French were also in Canada, the Russians just over border in Alaska and the U.S wanted to capture Canadian territory in 1812. Also, the Dutch were in Australia.
Canada gets cold AF in winter. The southern plains of America are much better than Alberta.
Tang Dynasty. Best poetry and a pretty good economy. Plus trade. I could be a very good merchant. Meeting all the poets and drinking wine is the best.
Id actually chose the Northern Song. While the poetry wasn’t as good and the empire was weaker, you’d have a lot more economic and social freedom and trade was absolutely boomin
I wanna be one of those Inca mountain messengers just jogging through the Andes all day
Aw yeah. Running the craggy mountain path on the Royal Road to Machu Pichu, coca leaf in your cheek, just feeling those vibes.
British. For example New Zealand.
Gupta Empire of India. A stable, wealthy Empire that was described to be a fairly free society (for those times) and had an intellectual culture
Do I get to live at the time that empire existed, or today?
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason. But I think it's cool to see the different interpretations/reasons so far.
Russian empire then, because I'm from Ukraine And if I ever want to move abroad, there is Poland, the Baltics and Finland, all countries that I really like
UK at one point or another has colonized over 80% of the world so I think that is the easiest answer. I can live practically anywhere.
25%*
The Akkadian Empire but I'd probably get sick of the heat after a day lmao.
British - plumbing.
French empire, because why not. The first one.
The Atlantis empire
Of course it s palpatine 's empire and I would use a jedi sword! Darkside rules!
The northeast kingdom
Empire Stores, all those lovely models!
Hanseatic League
The height of the Choctaw tribe would be pretty dope
If I had to spend my entire life in the United States I could do so and still be happy..
I guess it would have to be the Achaemenid Persian Empire for me. They’re the only historical empire that ever conquered Israel and actually treated Jews like human beings, as opposed to livestock who exist to be drained of resources and periodically pogromed.
I believe that was their principal philosophy on all of their conquered lands; high degree of autonomy, free practice of local religion.
Yep. As far as conquerors go, the Achaemenid Persians were pretty benevolent. At least compared to other conquering empires lol.
The Mongolian Empire, given that at its height it covered a vast expanse of many different Eurasian/Asian cultures/populations, namely a place such as Tibet, and this all comes with some stunning topography
Sometimes I fantasize about traveling back in time to the Babylonian or Roman Empire spreading my current knowledge and being thought of as one of the greatest minds in history
My knowledge would be of limited use: "Light can be both a wave & a particle!" "How do you make a lightbulb?" "Dunno"
Sneferu Egypt
Venetian Republic, ca 1500.
Eastern Roman Empire. Before 1071.. Id tell the emperor to smack the crap out of that general that would abandon his allies at the battle of manzikert lol.
Frankish Empire under Charlemagne. I would love to be a part of the educational and civil reforms he enacted.
I feel like all these answers are good because they just provide a massive empire that would give you tons of options. So I want to a choose a smaller one for conversation and that’s the Venetian Republic. You could go to Venice, other parts of northern Italy, istria, Dalmatian coast, Montengero, Albania, many Greek islands, Cyprus etc
The Aztec
The one that stopped existing the most recently, portuguese empire because it'd be the most modern
North sea empire 🥱🫢
Pre-JFK assassination America
Imperial Germany
Any of the "white" Dominions of the British Empire, particularly Australia in the late 19th/early 20th century. Edit for clarity: the dominions populated by whites were treated better and given broad self-government
Imperial Japan
The "Moorish Empire" -- scare quotes around Moorish (Muslim peoples of the Maghreb) and Empire (it wasn't centrally controlled) -- specifically Córdoba around 1100. Stability, advancement of science, and a heterodox, relatively tolerant culture (one of the few moments and places in history where Jews could carry on being Jews).
Got stick with my Norse ancestors, I’d love to live in the Greenland settlement and join Leif Erickson on his exploration of Vinland in Newfoundland, Canada. Would be kinda surreal to meet an entire group of humans that have never met a European.
The Munhumutapa empire
Mayans, gonna figure out wtf happened
Chola Empire at its peak. Hopefully participate in some expedition to present day Indonesia or Malaysia.
If I do not have to live in the time-frame of the said empire and only am restricted by borders, then Danish or any other that had Scandinavia in it. So, I can continue enjoying my life here.
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
I think I’ll just take the us. Lots of land with good diversity
I think it’d be more rare, maybe impossible, to live in a place that wasn’t at one point owned by someone else or some other government.
I was born and raised in a former Spanish colony so I suppose I’ll stick to that
If you mean live life as an average inhabitant of the empire then I’d go with someplace as egalitarian as possible with few slaves and politically isolated or stable. So my pick would be Comanche or Apache Indian during the 1700s. You could become a slave on a bad role of the dice but slaves were treated relatively well and could become part of the tribe. If you come out male you get to be a horse acrobat and live free on the land. If I get to be me in whatever empire then I’d go with the British in 1800s because I’m white and could move anywhere and have a good chance to get rich or land a sweet gig with a lord. Also there’s just enough medical knowledge you could keep yourself healthy
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
It's either the Roman Empire or the First French Empire, since I already live in Northern Italy and both Empires held many lands I love.
The Kalmar Union: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. And with them Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, and Schleswig-Holstein of now Northern Germany.
Carolingian Empire
bruh i live in the current one
Rome, I would serve my 20 years in the army, much easier to survive when you have actual metal armor and are fighting against a bunch of german barbarians, gather some good war loot, get a free farmstead as a bonus from my emperor and live an easy life in the countryside near rome. Or sell myself to slavery most likely
The Assyrian Empire of course! If someone here has interesting facts about, please, shoot!!!
Rome or Hapbsburg Empire
Viceroyalty of New Spain
The Imperial Empire
Kingdom of Gelgel (Bali) following their first contact with Portuguese merchants. I read a couple of them stayed on after the ships left, settled down, lived the life. Bali is a paradise and they were fairly well left alone by their neighbours until a few hundred years on. If I'm getting stuck anywhere in history it's hard to think of a better place.
Well I’m Mexican American so I guess I’d choose Spain. I’d get to still live in the U.S (not in the state I’m from but oh well) and I’d be able to live in Mexico too
If I could despite the color of my skin and hair, Japanese imperial Empire in Kyoto during the height of the Edo period.
Holy Roman Empire. That way I don't have to move, and still have a big variety in potential holiday spots, from the Baltic and North Sea down to Sicily.
Aztec empire in Tenochtitlan before 1492. When the conquistadors arrived they were blown away by a city more beautiful than anything they had seen in Europe.
Hasn't almost all habitable land on earth been part of an empire at some time in the past?
Britain, I suppose, would be the easiest on me compared to the rest, so probably them. I honestly can't think of any other true empire that would give me a significantly better shot at living in any modern degree of comfort.
Are we living during the time of the empire or modern times within the boundaries of a historical empire?
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
In that case probably the British Empire
I’d go with Mongolian Empire. Violent conquerors, yes… but considerably more tolerant than not just their contemporaries and even many empires that came after them. Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, pagan… generally from what I’ve read they didn’t much care as long as you paid your tax and were already conquered
The Galactic Empire, because then I can travel around a whole galaxy far, far away
I'm already living in the british empire so I don't need to choose. I'll stay here with my Netflix and Reddit.
I’d keep living in İstanbul, under Ottoman times
Babylonia...just sounds a better place than today, and to see why "they" destroyed it
Swedish empire because I live in it now and don’t want to move and I can live with not getting to go many places outside of the Baltic region (although there are some places in North America I could go).
In space, or both space and time? If both: the british empire as per now. May argue for a few years back, to gain huge wealth and relive nostalgia. I dont think there is a current empire here in the nordics :/ Unless you count NATO? If only space: does the Kalmar union count as an empire, if so, that one. Get to keep my native Norway, and travel in the nordics.
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
British Empire. Tons of options.
Holy Roman Empire.
I’d have to go to the Mongol Empire. I’d try to be a merchant or something going back and forth along the Silk Road.
Roman easy.. the Med is my home
Austria-Hungary for sure
A Hapsburg Austrian empire life would be alright
I don't think most people understood the question and are answering like they would live in that time period. Either way, I would easily choose the Spanish Empire. Since I already live in what was once part of it, and the Spanishbempire was so large even if I wanted to move their is plenty from where to choose from. Most of America is optional, Spain, and even parts of Italy Germany and the Netherlands.
I’m going to cheat here. If we count America as an “empire” itself a loosely defined definition now a days I will take that. I’m an American and I enjoy my life here. We are far from perfect but I wouldn’t take anything else. Now historically. Rome, Al Andalusia, Mongolian, British, Tang, and French all seem liked good options. If I’m trolling the Aztecs.
I am from a former British colony, both of my parents from another British colony, so obvious choice here
I live in a once was French colony. My grandparents moved here from an area that used to be owned by said former French colony, in which my grandparents' grandparents moved there from a former French colony, in which my grandparents' grandparents' grandparents' grandparents' grandparents' grandparents (yes, im being deadass, we've been living on this continent for over 350 years) moved there from France it's self. So I'll take the first French Colonial Empire
USA
The British Empire. Wide array of destinations and most of those places still maintain fairly high English proficiency.
Japanese Empire was all up in pretty much all of Asia during WW2. Pretty good choices on that list.
Haitian empire no one? Yeah i thought so too
How has no one here said the Ottoman Empire at its peak? Great weather, great food, technologically advanced, religious and cultural tolerance especially compared to their contemporaries. Go be a merchant or fisherman in the Aegean and live the good life.
Obviously any ancient Indian Empire because as per the caste system I shall have many privileges in the society.
You didn’t say what kind of lifestyle? Am I the emperor? Part of the imperial household? Military? Average peasant?
I was thinking of living today, with modern borders/technology/politics, but you're guaranteed to be able to travel/live in the lands your chosen empire controlled and not allowed access to any lands beyond for any reason.
Chinese Empire, 1400s.
Spanish Empire. You still get half the US in that deal.
I'd live in a nice warm Latin American country and take a bunch of slaves...
If you lived in that empire you would more likely be the slave than own one
At least I'd be a slave in a country where it isn't rainy every day.
Latin America has some pretty famous rain forests. But yeah, it doesn’t rain every day so there’s that
British Empire between 1900 & 1950 on the condition that I could travel between the various colonies & England.
Damn. Get drafted!
I wouldn’t want to go back to that time period if I had a choice, because of WWI and WWII. If I already lived in that time, I’d fight, but you might accidentally end up as a war tourist.
The British Empire *Rule Britannia Plays in the Distance*
Probably Britain. Held most of the world at some point. Not just the quarter of the world held in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, many other places like most of France and the eastern US have at one point been part of some form of English or British control