What the heck is this?
So, you’ve been thrown back in time. Now what? You can use a calculator but could you make one? What are the rules of a duel? How do you avoid the Black Plague? Can you live off potatoes? Let’s learn together!
This is a speculative look into everything you would need to know to survive anywhere (or anywhen) in history. This is an exploration into science history–sometimes more science, sometimes more history. A science and history blog that explores scientific concepts with practical information about how to recreate and use the techniques described in any time period. The History Survival Guide (or, A Time Traveler’s Guide to Surviving History) has been updating since July 2019. Each page is the accumulation of research for a particular topic, synthesized and summarized in a useful ‘survival guide’ format.
Who are you?
I am a well-meaning stranger who felt bad about not using my biology degree
How often is this updated?
Once the research is done, usually on a Friday. Sometimes a Wednesday. Time is fluid.
Follow on Twitter and Tumblr for updates or just for chatting
Is there an age recommendation/warning?
Science and history are for everyone, so is this
What tools do you use to make this?
Currently, I do all the thumbnailing and organization on my iPad (Procreate) and then I clean it up and add final lettering in Photoshop CC. This website is currently using the Toocheke theme by LeeToo
In addition, my soul, which I sold to the devil at the crossroads for a good deal on primary sources that I store in Zotero
When did this start?
July 2019 for the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing
Hey, this page looks a little different than I remember, why is that?
Either you stepped out of sync with your timeline or you found a section I edited. It’s really 55:45.
What is the Supplemental Research section for?
This is where I’m putting any additional information I’ve collected for any given page. Not everything goes into a page, I slim it down for readability, but in case you are curious I thought I’d include even more details (math usually). Think of it as an (even more) non-fiction companion to the text. It isn’t required to read to understand any page.
I’m also including it since I can spend hours on a diagram only for it to take up about as much space as a large stamp or two.
Who are the The Control Institute of Standards/CIOS/Cult of Sanitation?
Not sure, but the explorer whose guidebook we are…borrowing doesn’t seem to care for them
Should I risk my life with this new information?
Please don’t. Learning is its own adventure.
I found a typo/coding error/time wrap or have a topic to suggest?
Email me at: historysurvivalguide@gmail.com
Important Author’s Note: This is for fun, don’t do anything stupid.