History is crucial to understanding our past, present, and possible future. Yet, one particular branch of study within the realm of history—alternate history—presents unique opportunities to explore the “almost happened.” In doing so, it provides perspective on the history that actually did come to pass.
Every historian and fiction writer has, at some point, had thoughts of alternate history if not seriously dabbling in the exercise of asking a simple question—what if? Also known as alternative history, or alt history in popular culture, it is a genre that has enticed historians and creative minds alike.
This genre offers a window into a world of infinite what-if scenarios. As a student of history, when you come face-to-face with the threads of the past, it's virtually impossible to resist the allure of imagining how differently those threads might have been woven to create an entirely different tapestry of human civilization.
In this ultimate guide, I intend to unpack the complex concept of alternate history in a comprehensive manner. I’ll address common questions, such as what alternate history is, what it means, and whether the terms 'alternate' and 'alternative' are interchangeable in this context. This blog post also aims to serve as a primer to additional information you can find on the alternate history wiki, providing a comprehensive overview of its origins, significant examples, and how it has permeated popular culture and literature.
What is Alternate History?
Alternate history, in its most basic form, is a method of re-examining historical events and asking the compelling question—what if things had happened differently? A blend of facts and creative interpretation, this genre takes historical occurrences and tweaks them, presenting an alternative series of events and outcomes.
As a genre of speculative fiction, it presents a world in which history has diverged from the reality we know. It imagines what-if scenarios that often drive the story's plot, leading to dramatically different outcomes in the world's timeline. By questioning and reimagining the past, alternate history allows us to explore many possibilities and outcomes that our history did not follow.
Examples of Alternate History
One of the easiest ways to understand alternate history is to look at examples of works within the book genre. In the alternate history depicted in Fatherland by Robert Harris, Germany won World War II, leading to a Cold War between the United States and the Third Reich. In the alternative history depicted in Kim Stanley Robinson's The Years of Rice and Salt, the Black Death pandemic in the 14th century wiped out 99% of Europe's population, leading to a world predominantly influenced by Eastern cultures.
One of the most popular alternate history works, which was a hit show on Amazon, is Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle. It postulates a world where the Axis Powers won World War II, leading to a drastically different global political landscape. But the origins of alternate history go back centuries, well before Dick published his novel.
The Origins of Alternative History
While enjoying substantial popularity in recent years, the alternate history concept is not new. Some literary historians attribute the genesis of this genre to an ancient Roman historian, Livy. In his monumental work Ab Urbe Condita Libri, he speculated what might have happened had Alexander the Great turned west to attack Rome instead of heading east to Egypt. Another appearance of alternate history centuries ago can be found in 1490 when Joanot Martorell penned Tirant lo Blanch, a work of fiction depicting a world where the Turks did not capture Constantinople.
Alternate history relies heavily on historical accuracy but veers off course by exploring various scenarios. These explorations can range from quite plausible to highly fantastical. For instance, the captivating universe of the aforementioned The Man in the High Castle is built on a relatively plausible premise—what if the Axis Powers had won World War II, conquering the United States of America?
But his inspiration came from works of alternate history before him, such as Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore, a novel exploring the Confederacy winning the US Civil War. Similarly, Harry Turtledove (one of my favorite authors in the genre) and his novel Guns of the South push the envelope further by imagining a reality where the American Confederacy is equipped with advanced technology, tipping the scales in their favor during the American Civil War.
In my own series, The Kaiser's Machines, I incorporated the element of armored walkers (akin to Star Wars AT-ATs) into the harsh reality of World War I, blending reality and fantasy typical in some alt history stories. But my work and the ones mentioned above deal with alternate fiction as just that—fiction.
It’s also explored outside of fiction writing on countless online forums, Reddit threads, and Quora questions. It has appeared in published non-fiction form as well. One such book that even influenced Dick’s work was a study of counterfactual history (where alternate history scenarios are explored without leaning heavily into the fantasy aspect) is the book If The Allies Had Lost: Sixty Alternate Scenarios of World War II.
Elements of Alternate History
Alternate history has common elements across all its works. Firstly, it requires a “point of divergence,” where history as we know it deviates into an alternate path. This could be a change in the outcome of a war, the survival of a significant figure who originally died, or any such significant event. In the words of Doc Brown from Back to the Future, a tangent!
Secondly, the “ripple effect” or “butterfly effect” is a common theme in alternate history. This is the idea that small changes can have far-reaching consequences. Finally, realism and plausibility are important aspects. No matter how different, the events and their outcomes must seem possible within the context of the established historical timeline. Naturally, authors take their liberties with this last one.
Alternative Human History
Alternative history has explored many diverging points in our timelines, but some have even explored the very foundation of our homo sapien existence. This sub-genre envisions a world where human evolution took a different path, leading to a radically different present. These often include alternate evolutionary paths, such as a world where Neanderthals did not go extinct and coexist with Homo Sapiens, as in Stephen Baxter's Evolution.
Wait a second, though, why did I use the word “alternative” over “alternate?” Are they different or interchangeable? In fact, the terms “alternate” and “alternative” are often used interchangeably. However, they carry slightly different connotations.
The Word “Alternative History”
Derived from Latin, “alternative” suggests a choice between two things, typically implying the outright rejection of one. On the other hand, “alternate” refers to an action taken by turns or offering a choice. Alternative history is just another term for alternate history. The usage varies between different regions and personal preferences, but the underlying concept remains the same – a genre of speculative fiction that envisions a different historical timeline. However, while the term '” alternative history” is often used, “alternate history” seems to be a more accurate term for this genre of speculative history and fiction, at least from my American perspective.
What Does Alternate History Mean?
In essence, alternate history asks questions. Questions like what if the Confederacy had won the Battle of Gettysburg? Or what if the Nazis had triumphed in the Battle of Britain, subsequently initiating Operation Sea Lion? These hypothetical scenarios have been extensively analyzed and portrayed in various works of alt history and by online communities.
For me, alternate history is more than just a mental exercise or a literary genre. It's a means to understand our past better and, consequently, the world as it stands today. It helps us appreciate the historical events that have shaped our reality, both the best and worst of times. It underscores our past's profound impact on our present and future, helping us navigate our journey forward more effectively.
Identifying the Longest Alternate History Timeline
Some alternate history narratives span for thousands of years, constructing extensive and intricate alternate timelines. One of the longest developed by an author is Harry Turtledove’s Worldwar series. It begins with an alien invasion during World War II and spans several decades into an imagined future.
In The Kaiser’s Machines timeline I’ve been developing, I intend to take my timeline from 1914 all the way through what was called the Cold War era in our timeline and possibly beyond. As you can imagine, writing such works requires not only an understanding of history and the time period in question but also needs a creative mind to bring these worlds to life. That includes building out new political maps to reshape and view the world as it might have been.
Alternate History Maps and Generators
A unique aspect of this genre is the creation of alternate history maps that visually represent these alternative timelines, providing geographical context for the narrative. While I have always been a fan of hand drawing maps and have done so for some of my unpublished works, for The Kaiser’s Machines, I created the maps found in the books using Other World Mapper, which is used for fantasy writers and RPG players to create maps of their own. I discuss other options in greater detail in a later blog in this series found here.
What Else Will I Cover In This Series On Alternate History?
I think you get it now. But there’s more to talk about on this subject I intend to cover in other additions to this series. Below highlights three main pathways I will go down in discussing the subject of alternate history:
In this blog and its supporting pieces, I’ll dive into alternate history on the screen, from movies and TV shows to documentaries and video games.
I’ll dive into the differences between alternate history and other genres, top authors in the genre, and best reads in fiction and nonfiction.
In these blogs, I intend to break down how to write alternate history, including the top map makers, tips for writing, and my approach to The Kaiser’s Machines timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alternate History?
Alternate history, also known as alt-history or alternative history, is a genre of speculative fiction that reimagines historical events with different outcomes. This method provides an 'alternate history of the world' by changing key events or decisions in our known history.
How is an Alternate History Map created?
An alternate history map is created by imagining how geographical boundaries and territories would change in an alternative timeline. These maps are usually based on historical facts but change the outcomes of key events or decisions that affect geographical locations. Some can be drawn by hand and manipulated using photo editing tools like Photoshop or map-making software.
What does the term Alternate History mean?
Alternate history refers to a genre of speculative fiction that asks what if? to historical events. It explores alternative outcomes to historical events, thus imagining different timelines for our world.
Are “Alternate” and “Alternative” interchangeable in the context of history?
While these terms often are used interchangeably, they subtly differ in meaning. Alternative suggests a choice between two options, implying rejection of one, while alternate suggests a rotating sequence or a choice between possibilities. Hence, alternate history is generally the preferred term in this genre.
How does Alternate History help us understand our past?
Alternate history helps us understand our past by exploring what might have happened if key historical events had different outcomes. This process makes us appreciate the significance of these events in shaping our world and helps us understand the impact of historical events on our present and future.
What is an alternate history generator?
An alternate history generator is a term used to describe the process of creating new, speculative timelines in the genre of alternate history. These timelines are created by changing the outcomes of historical events and exploring the potential consequences.
How do you use alternate history in a sentence?
You could say, “The book Guns of the South provides an interesting piece of alternate history, imagining the Confederate victory in the American Civil War."
What is the meaning of “alternate for history?”
“Alternate for history” refers to alternate history, a genre that considers how history might have turned out differently if key historical events had different outcomes.
What is meant by an alternate history?
Alternate history refers to a genre of speculative fiction that explores different outcomes of historical events, creating different timelines and scenarios for our world. An alternate history can be a discussion of tangents from real-world events online, an actual book that’s either nonfiction or fiction that explores a particular tangent, or some other media that does this, such as a video or a movie.
What is the word alternative history?
Alternative history is another term used for 'alternate history,' a genre of speculative fiction that explores different outcomes of historical events, creating different timelines and scenarios for our world.
What are the elements of alternative history?
Alternative history typically involves three key elements: a point of divergence from actual history, a well-researched understanding of the historical context, and a logical exploration of the consequences of that divergence.
What is the alternative human history?
Alternative human history refers to speculative narratives that explore how human history could have developed differently under alternate circumstances or events.
What are the top alternate history forum platforms?
Many hobbyists and alternate history enthusiasts discuss "what-if" scenarios online through such forum platforms as Reddit and Quora.
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