# What single historical event would you most like to have witnessed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582 "2003-01-19T03:27:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Irishlove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3da27b/32.png) [@Irishlove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishlove)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/1 "2003-01-19T03:27:38Z")
If you could travel back in time and observe one historical event (as a fly on the wall, you wouldn’t have to participate), what would you choose? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/2 "2003-01-19T03:58:00Z")
I’d have to go with the assasination of Iulius Caesar. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/3 "2003-01-19T04:20:03Z")
I’d have to go with the Big Bang. Since you’ve offered me the chance to watch it, you’ll have to figure out where I can watch from. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/4 "2003-01-19T04:24:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimboguy \* > \*\*I’d have to go with the Big Bang. > > Since you’ve offered me the chance to watch it, you’ll have to figure out where I can watch from. \*\* Doesn’t _Milliways_ have a sister restaurant there? ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/5 "2003-01-19T06:27:09Z")
I think Hiroshima, 8/6/45 would be interesting. And there are dozens of great battles throughout history I couldn’t choose from. Crucifixion of Jesus, if it really happened. I’d want to make sure I could do a substitution if I accidentally chose a fictitious event. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/6 "2003-01-19T06:34:35Z")
October 31st, 1517, 12:00 noon: Martin Luther nails the _Disputation of the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences_ to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. > [@](#): > > Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter. ---
**Author:** ![The\_MacDairmuid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_MacDairmuid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_MacDairmuid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/7 "2003-01-19T06:36:17Z")
Without a doubt, the lunar landing, first hand. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/8 "2003-01-19T06:39:42Z")
Luckily for me, since my event is so short and so specifically timed, I don’t have to hang around breathing the lovely body oders emanating from unwashed medieval men. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/9 "2003-01-19T06:41:50Z")
You know, I could claim that “oder” is an accepted variant of the word “odor”, but y’all people just don’t take anybody’s word at anything! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/10 "2003-01-19T07:19:58Z")
I’d probably choose the signing of the Declaration of Independence, since I’ve always wondered exactly what the mood was like at the moment when those guys actually signed the thing. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/11 "2003-01-19T07:55:54Z")
The meeting between Richard II and the leaders of the Peasant’s Revolt. What was promised? What concessions were made? ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/12 "2003-01-19T08:28:10Z")
I’d go to the theater festival in Athens in 414 B.C., and see the original casts of OEDIPUS THE KING and LYSISTRATA. How’s that for a double bill?! And Socrates would be in the audience! ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/13 "2003-01-19T08:33:24Z")
Seeing the Beatles in Hamburg c. 1960 (or was it '61? Or both? I forget…). ---
**Author:** ![Gerome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Gerome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerome)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/14 "2003-01-19T11:17:11Z")
I’d like to witness the event that killed the dinosaurs. Then not tell anyone what REALLY happened, except in vague descriptions. Scientist: “Was it a plague?” Me: “Cold.” Scientist: “Was it a meteor?” Me: “Warmer” Scientist: “Was it climate change?” Me: “Warmer.” Hehehe… ---
**Author:** ![cart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ec8ea/32.png) [@cart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cart)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/15 "2003-01-19T13:10:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manatee \* > \*\*The meeting between Richard II and the leaders of the Peasant’s Revolt. > What was promised? What concessions were made? \*\* As far as I know this one isn’t a mystery. Wat Tyler was killed on the spot by the Mayor of London. Richard II then agreed to the peasants’ demands, but once the danger was over went back on his word and had about 1500 of them executed. So whatever was promised, they didn’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/16 "2003-01-19T13:14:18Z")
The weeks leading up to the crucifixion. I think this might answer a lot of questions. Either that or Raquel Welsh being chased by a dinosaur. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/17 "2003-01-19T15:15:23Z")
The first-ever performance of _Henry V_. I would LOVE to know how the audience reacted, how much they really liked Henry, whether they were expecting to see Falstaff or if rumors of his death had leaked out beforehand, which of the surviving texts is closest to what was actually performed, and all that geeky stuff. _King Lear_ would be a close second. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/18 "2003-01-19T15:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*The weeks leading up to the crucifixion. I think this might answer a lot of questions. > \*\* Even more so the three days after. ---
**Author:** ![tesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@tesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tesa)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/19 "2003-01-19T16:43:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JohnT \* > \*\*Luckily for me, since my event is so short and so specifically timed, I don’t have to hang around breathing the lovely body oders emanating from unwashed medieval men. 😉 \*\* Or, you could be the fly on the wall holding that large bottle of “Parfum pour Les Medieval Men Stinky” and spray it on them. 🙂 Tesa ---
**Author:** ![Toffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@Toffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toffe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582/20 "2003-01-19T17:17:18Z")
The battles of Marathon (Greeks vs. Persians), the Catalaunian Fields (Huns vs. Romans and Goths), the Horns of Hattin (Saladin’s army vs. Crusaders), Tenochtitlan (Conquistadors and Tlaxcalans vs. Aztecs) or any other great battles would be great to watch, as would great sieges (El Cid’s defence of Valencia?) or defensive battles (Caesar’s defence in Gaul with a few hundred vs. thousands, where Caesar started by driving the horses off a cliff to make his soldiers fight better? Forgot the name). Witnessing the Viking army sailing into London to deal with Aethelraed Unraed would also be a hoot, as would the start of Cortez’ big trip to Mexico (running off from Cuba after borrowing the governor’s ships before he’d change his mind, then eventually arriving in Mexico, meeting the natives, burning his ships, then telling his men that they will become their own lords of this land under him or die trying). Seeing some of the journeys of Herodotus or exploring ancient Greece, Babylon, Sumeria, Egypt and Meroe would be wonderful too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-historical-event-would-you-most-like-to-have-witnessed/149582.md?page=2)