Back-in-Time Survey Results 07/03/98

In the Back-in-Time Survey, I asked a simple question: If you could go back to any point in time between 498 AD and 1698 AD and spend four hours with anyone your heart desires, who would it be? And why?

This turned out to be far from simple for many participants. "Only four hours?" was an oft-repeated complaint. "Only one trip?" It wasn't an easy choice for history buffs. But our visitors rose to the challenge.

In addition to the basic questions of who, when, and why, readers very kindly answered some optional queries. Very few would tell the people they are visiting that they're from the future, and even fewer would actually try to change history. The most popular item to bring from the future was a video camera to record (either openly or unobtrusively) the momentous meeting. The most commonly-visited centuries were the fifteenth and sixteenth; a frequent cause for traveling to the past was to unravel a mystery. And the most common suggestion for streamlining TempTer was to extend the time that travelers could stay in the past.

As for who people would meet on a trip into history, there were, not surprisingly, almost as many choices as there were participants in the survey. I've listed them below in increasing order of popularity.

If the name of the person who selected a historical figure is hyperlinked, click the name to read that participant's explanation of his choice. Those who are not hyperlinked were too shy to let their answers be put up here at the site, so I have summarized their choices with their permission.

Responses posted on the forum can be found under the "Back in Time Survey" post. Remember, to read board postings it is not necessary to join. However, if you'd like to take the time to register, any comments you'd like to add to the Back in Time thread would be most welcome.

 

 

Honorable Mentions

The following historical figures received one vote apiece.

Abelard & Heloise

DLRS wanted to meet this extraordinary writer and the equally extraordinary woman he loved.

King Alfred of England

Terry Z wanted to meet the only king of England ever to be labeled "the Great." Be sure to check out Alfred in our Who's Who resource..

The Venerable Bede

Please see Mark Knight's eloquent response about men of learning in the early middle ages.

Eleanor of Aquitaine and Marie de Champagne

Lysandra wanted to enjoy a "Court of Love" in Poitou. You can read her post on the board. You may also wish to check out your Guide's article on the origins of courtly love, Love Blossoms.

Queen Elizabeth I

Norma was fascinated by the queen and her court.

Elizabeth, Dame de Bruse

Don't miss Gayle's informative reply about this extraordinary woman.

The founders of the Knights Templar

Hpomares wanted to meet the men who formed one of the most significant orders of knighthood in history. You can read the post on the board.

Johannes Kepler

Be sure to see David's expressive reply concerning one of the giants of scientific history.

Llewelyn ap Gruffydd

H4P1A3S1 wanted to meet the great Welsh prince at the height of his power.

Christopher Marlowe

Marvin had a particular reason for going back to 1593. Read his response on the board. You may also want to read one of Marlowe's poems posted here at the site.

William Shakespeare

Kylie posted her intriguing idea for a time trip on the forum.

Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham

RMilkins wanted to confirm or disprove his suspicions about Stafford. Read his post on the board.

The Residents of Wharram Percy

Pat McGuire wanted to solve a mystery, too; you can read her response on the board. And be sure to visit this lost medieval village yourself.

Whoever really wrote the Secreta Secretorum

Florian had some interesting things to say about this mysterious manuscript on the forum.

We also had some choices that did not precisely fit in our time period:

Hypatia of Alexandria

Luke wanted to meet the extraordinary woman who had the care of the ill-fated Library.

The apostle Thomas

Frazer posted his response about "Doubting Thomas" on the forum in a separate posting from the Back in Time thread.

Mary & Percy Shelley, Bryon, and Polidori

Sandsurfer was intrigued by the circumstances that led to Mary Shelley's creation of Frankenstein.

J. S. Bach

Andrew wanted to hear the composer, who is reputed to be one of the greatest organists of all time, perform one of his masterpieces.

Runners-Up

These intriguing individuals received two votes apiece.

King Arthur

Gwen and Coco (who responded on the board) both wanted to meet the real king on whom the legends are based. For more about the historical King Arthur, please check out our page of net links on the subject.

Leonardo da Vinci

Robert and your Guide thought da Vinci was an irresistible choice. Don't miss our page of net links on Leonardo.

William Marshal

Charles and Steve chose the man who is considered by many to be the quintessential knight.

Michelangelo

Michelle gave an almost mesmerizing response about this extraordinary artist, and Rick's reply can be found on the board.

Richard III

NancyH posted what she'd do if she met Richard on the forum, and Terry admits to thinking of Richard as his hero. For more about this controversial figure, see your Guide's original feature, The Slandered King.

And the Winner Is...

Participants & Leaders in the Peasants' Revolt

On the forum, Grover wanted to meet John Ball and the participants in the revolt, and Mr. Ripley chose to go one step further and also meet Wat Tyler; A.Edgar chose John Ball.

To find out more about the revolt, please join me later this month for an original feature on the uprising.

 

Thanks go to everyone who participated. I hope you enjoyed your trip into the past as much as I enjoyed reading your thoughts and ideas.

Notice: TempTer is new and improved! Take our new Time Trip Survey and tell us what you would do with a fortnight in history.

 

Responses to the Back-in-Time Survey will remain up on the board indefinitely. If in the future it becomes necessary to remove them, I'll put them up on a page here at the site, where they'll remain permanently.

 

The hourglass graphic was created by your guide (and it is upside-down, signifying time going backwards).

 

 

 

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