If You Went Back In Time . . .

[smoothshooter]

If you were able to go back in time to the 1700’s for a month or two, and had clothes and equipment appropriate for the time and place, what would be the one, two, or three things about society that you would have the hardest time dealing with?

For me, it would be the stench and general filth found on almost everything and everybody,
The general lack of knowledge or concern about bacteria and germ theory would be appalling.
Slavery would bother me too, but that is beyond the realm of this discussion.

 

[Electrod47]

Language would be a problem. The Kings English back in the day, was a whole lot different than one would think. Could get you in trouble quick. Stangers had to justify their worth, pronto.

 

[wganz]

Smallpox would be the big one.
I've had the vaccine multiple times, just don't want to bring that back on the clothes.
Yes, did read the SciFi story about 2 time travelers that were picking up 'antiques' left behind by a wagon train headed west and got presented with a blanket in a chest of drawers that they took.

 

[wganz]

Language would be a problem. The Kings English back in the day, was a whole lot different than one would think. Could get you in trouble quick. Stangers had to justify their worth, pronto.

a big bag of salt plus some spices for barter would help.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I would bring condoms....

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I would bring condoms....

Nah, Nah, Nah. The OP didn't say anything about bringing things with you. You'd have to invent a new application for sheep intestines....

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I would bring condoms....

Nah, Nah, Nah. The OP didn't say anything about bringing things with you. You'd have to invent a new application for sheep intestines....

 

[deerstalkert]

being shot on sight by the white folk for sleeping with a tall blonde Scot's woman!

 

[andy52]

The smell defiantly, sickness maybe? Most of the sickness of the time I would be immune too, as would most of you. Currency could be an issue if you didn't bring any. I not even sure where I would hang out, I'm an inland person by birth, but I've spent many years at sea, and I'm thinking a seaport might be better for me.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Nah, Nah, Nah. The OP didn't say anything about bringing things with you. You'd have to invent a new application for sheep intestines....

Horses were not the only things that were traded back then...

 

[The Crisco Kid]

The smell defiantly, sickness maybe? Most of the sickness of the time I would be immune too, as would most of you. Currency could be an issue if you didn't bring any. I not even sure where I would hang out, I'm an inland person by birth, but I've spent many years at sea, and I'm thinking a seaport might be better for me.

I could be wrong but I don't think any of the younger generations would be immune to smallpox since they weren't vaccinated. That was stopped in 1972. I doubt that we would be immune to typhoid fever or cholera either. Both of those killed a lot of people. I think it was typhoid that got Jake Hawken. Since you mentioned seaports and I was in the Navy, need I mention some of the readily available diseases in those dens of sin?

 

[Colonial Boy]

For me, it’d probably be the food, especially the lack of hygiene in preparing it ( I look back on my childhood, 80 years ago and wonder how the general population survived.
Smells would not be a problem, anyone who was in the East 60 years ago would remember that one soon became used to the smells.
Cleanliness, especially bodily, would be no worry, I once took part in an Army experiment where a group of us lived in the bush for three weeks with only enough water for drinking and washing our hands and faces and only one change of clothing, which was swapped each day, if it was dry.
After the first week we all smelled the same and it became unnoticeable; the control group had shower trucks and all the modern amenities.
One interesting finding was that the ”dirties” had less bacteria on their bodies than the “cleanies”.

 

[RanchRoper]

There would be no muzzleloading forum to ask if I should clean my rifle with water or invent Windex.

 

[Eutycus]

Asking where the restroom is when that "time's came". Like where's the toilet paper?

 

[Eutycus]

I think hygiene (or lack thereof) would soon kill any "romantic notions" that I had of the 1700s.

 

[Bushfire]

For me just disease and lack of medical help.

 

[akroguy]

I could deal with about anything to have the opportunity to perhaps sit in and listen to the founders deliberating over the Declaration.

Imagine being in the presence of such men.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I think hygiene (or lack thereof) would soon kill any "romantic notions" that I had of the 1700s.

Clothespins were invented before people hung their laundry...

 

[Eutycus]

I'd be lost trying to give the proper change. Can you imagine the blank stares when a store keeper asks for a certain amount of shilling or pence or crown or whatever? And just where would you get that money?

 

[wganz]

Nah, Nah, Nah. The OP didn't say anything about bringing things with you. You'd have to invent a new application for sheep intestines....

equipment appropriate

Given the situation, I'd use that space & weight for some oral antibiotics or other medications(ie TAO) to fight off diseases vs. running the chance of getting syphilis without good medical care for the month there. There are some YouTube video's on the effects of STD's in that time period. Go ahead if you wish but I'll keep Mr. Happy home while deployed.