I'd die from pneumonia thrice over if I went back more than a few decades (allergic to penicillin on top of a bad constitution). Modern life beats the hell out of premodern death.

At first, I was like: "Go back in time? To pre-germ theory medicine, laughable standards of hygiene, and no modern technology? Never!"

Then I noticed that OP supposes that we are forced to choose a past era. So I thought about it and began to realize that the prospect doesn't actually sound too awful. But some of the constraints are striking: if I were a woman, or a person of color, or marked by some other visible identifier of consequence, then my viable options really shrink up.

Anyway, I'd choose the late 1800s, make London or Paris my base, and spend my time visiting various capitals and foreign destinations in between socializing at home.

Going all the way back to the paleolithic era does have a certain romantic appeal, but the mosquitoes alone would kill it for me.

Not old enough to have seen any of these in pubs, but saw all three in venues of less than 1000 seats.

the movie Midnight in Paris made me think of this thread lol

I would like to live alongside Socrates because there would be a lot of good action going on. Plus living in a small innovative democracy would be sweet.

Rome during the time of Augustus whose reign marked the beginning of the era known as the Pax Romana, a period of peace and enlightenment. Crucial to this choice is that the OP stated that our role in society would be similar to one we have now. Which is important as I wouldn't want to be a slave, but having a few able bodies around my own household wouldn't hurt.

Ice Age Europe here I come.... Banging stones together to make fire, throwing spears at mammoths, everyone is a wilderness survival expert — what humans were really made for, but just coming to the dawn of the technologies which set us on the path to soi-disant "civilisation".

No pollution, no worrying about finances and pensions, and I could probably get away without shaving too Doubt it would get any better than that!

TT

Yeah I hear iglos are very cozy.
I understand what you saying though and partially agree.

Do I have to go back and be born then, or do I get to go back at a specific age? And if so do I get to bring any knowledge with me or start from scratch?

This is a trick question

Going back, even decade or two, would be absolute hell. I've only skimmed the thread, and yeah there are some ancient civilizations, revolutionary periods, inspiring people and places, throughout history. But none of them hold a candle to right friggen now.

Sure, the 60's might be "groovy". But how long before you're fed up with 6 television channels, people smoking everywhere, sub-standard automotive engineering, and lawn darts.

the 1920's might be fun until your 12 year old kid dies working in a textile mill

The 1990's werent' fun to live through the first time

The 1600's would be interesting. Until you died at age 29 from the flu.

The 1800's would be neat, unless you're black.

I just explained to my 9 year old what a "walkman" is and she laughed at me. I felt bad at first, but then I remembered what it was like to actually have to push 'rewind' to get back to the beginning of a song.

If I were "forced" to go back in time. Send me back to the dinosaur era. I'll jump underneath a brontasaurus' foot and end it all quickly.

I would want to see Napoleon's rise and fall.

Sick bump

Assuming I wouldn't be slaughtered, I'd love to be a fly on the wall during the Second Punic War. You have some amazing battles, historical celebrities like Hannibal, Archimedes, and Scipio Africanus, plus elephants!

Polybius writes of Hannibal sending a messenger to the leaders of Carthage with proof of his success. The messenger unloads an enormous sack of rings pulled from the bodies of slain romans. In my head, it would play out like the courtroom scene from Miracle on 34th St., with men coming in carrying countless sacks of rings. I'd love to be there to see that, as well as the use of the Archimedes Death Ray

After discussing the idea with my students today, I'd like to go back to Plato's Academy and watch him argue with Aristotle, and then I could tell them why they're both very wrong.

Back to the beginning of the poker boom. I get internet, modern computing, AND i get to be rich as **** for little to no effort. EZ game.

Good Antibiotics and novacaine and BC pills , so not too far back!

Even littler effort: Memorize the winning numbers for some recent megamillions jackpot that nobody won, go back the day before and pick those numbers.

1930's Spain

1000+ Constantinople.

Sometime during Ancient Mesopotamia. Maybe when Babylon was at it's height, so when Nebuchanezzer ruled.

This is so hard to answer given how current western standard of living is so great, often in unromantic or imperceptible ways (mostly medical-related). So I don't you think you can answer any other time if you really are concerned about day-to-day life.

If you set aside the physical/lifestyle issues, the 1700s (rise of democracy/reason) would be the most interesting from a History Detectives kind of viewpoint.

I'm black so I aint goin nowhere...

Okay maybe 1930s Harlem would be okay.

I could be wrong but didn't the Spartan women have a ridiculous amount of freedom (at least compared to other civilizations at the time?)

Well, you have to be careful here... that degree of freedom was really only for the aristocracy. Women may have owned as much as 35% of the estates in Sparta, but that's partly because the male aristocracy was dedicated to full-time soldiering. But yes, if you were lucky enough to be born into the upper class, as a female in Sparta you could count on getting an education and a delay in marriage until you were about 18 (whereas in the rest of Greece, you would likely be married off to a much older man by the time you were 12-13).