"WHAT IF ... We Got An SOS From Outer Solar System?" Topic
61 Posts
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Legion 4 | 31 Mar 2018 6:56 a.m. PST |
E.g. Cortez vs. the Aztecs … |
Daricles | 31 Mar 2018 8:25 a.m. PST |
Not so. Europe was engulfed in nation state rivalries constantly threatening to erupt in conflict. Queen Isabella's funding of Columbus' voyage was ridiculed by many at the timeas an enormous waste of resources better spent elsewhere. No one really knew what perils a voyage across the Atlantic to reach India, which is what Columbus was trying to do, would entail and most thought it impossible or not worth the risk. Isabella funded the voyage only because all other trade routes to India were closed to Spain and Spain was desperate to improve her trade status. Had Columbus' expedition simply vanished without a trace it is unlikely anyone would have come looking for them and the notion that a western trade route to India was folly would have been reinforced. It may have been another 100 years before Europe and America crossed paths to any extent. Who knows how American civilizations would have developed in that time. Instead, Columbus returned with vast wealth and tales of new lands rich in untapped resources and the race to conquer those new lands and claim those resources ensued. It had been proven that the difficult and costly westward voyage was well worth the trouble. |
Legion 4 | 31 Mar 2018 9:22 a.m. PST |
Who knows how American civilizations would have developed in that time. Good point … but at the time of Columbus the native Americans were about the level of "Stone Age", so to speak. So 100 years later they probably wouldn't have "advanced" that much more(?). Based on what we know of "prehistoric human" development, etc., now. Maybe in 100 years to "Bronze Age" ? But I'm just "SWAGging" … |
Daricles | 31 Mar 2018 12:21 p.m. PST |
Actually, the more important consideration would be what the effects of NOT discovering the new world would have on Europe. Without the massive influx of wealth and the new world diverting Europe's attention what would have happened? Would there have been major conflicts as Europe fought over existing resources and trade routes? I can only say that history would have played out very differently. Whatever changes would take place it could scarcely turn out any worse for Native American cultures, which were all but eradicated. It may have only delayed the inevitable, but with a different political, social and financial reality in place the Europeans may have encountered the native Americans with an entirely different mindset. Maybe they would have been less willing to ruthlessly exploit those new cultures and take their resources. To steer back on topic, that is why I think we would destroy the source of the alien sos and hope it reinforces the idea that any trip to reach our solar system is too costly and fraught with peril to be worth while. Maybe the loss would prompt alien protestors to pressure their government to shut down their space program and spend the money on welfare programs at home instead. Then, when we show up on their doorstep in another 500 years or so they will be the Aztecs and we'll be the conquistadors. |
Parzival | 31 Mar 2018 2:54 p.m. PST |
What evidence is there that the American civilizations were achieving any sort of technological advancement on a par with Europe? Answer: None. Not only were most still in a hunter-gatherer state technologically, with basic agriculture just in the beginning stages, the "advance" cultures were strictly Stone Age, without any capacity to make make bronze, much less iron or steel. Exactly what were they going to develop that could withstand European technology, which would continue to advance? They had no tradition of learning, no scientific method, no academic structure, no broad-based agricultural system to allow for the same, and in most cases, no written language, and no apparent progress towards the same. They were doomed. On the other hand, when it comes to aliens, we are quite technologically advanced, do have mass communication, the scientific method, and an elaborate and essentially global academic system to promote learning and technological advancement on a rapid scale. Plus, we're curious as hell. Yes, we'd rescue the aliens. And then we'd take their ship apart and figure out how to build our own. Then we'd contact their home system and "demand a piece of the action." |
Herkybird | 31 Mar 2018 8:30 p.m. PST |
If we got an S.O.S. from space? – I imagine it would at least pop our feelings of self importance! I suspect we would send a probe, but it would get there too late for any meaningful help to be possible. Of course, the question assumes we understand the message and can pinpoint the source accurately! |
Cacique Caribe | 31 Mar 2018 8:45 p.m. PST |
Well, if it's beyond our Moon, their ship might continue to transmit a beacon long after their crew is dead. So … we might only find a derelict ship with their dormant eggs. And we know how those movies go. :) Dan |
Herkybird | 01 Apr 2018 1:51 a.m. PST |
OK CC! – Nuke 'em from orbit! …its the only way to be sure… |
Parzival | 01 Apr 2018 8:41 a.m. PST |
OK CC! – Nuke 'em from orbit! …its the only way to be sure… Another reason to send an Orion pulse craft! |
Pyrate Captain | 04 Apr 2018 5:26 p.m. PST |
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Daricles | 04 Apr 2018 5:49 p.m. PST |
Parzival, I agree that the American cultures were primitive in comparison to Europe and had no real hope of catching up. The only chance they had, and it's not much of a chance, would be for Europe to follow a different path that led to catastrophe (unlikely) or social developments resulting in a more benevolent European attitude upon the cultures meeting, which defies precedent set by almost all of human history. However, to have any chance at all, no matter how small, they would have to have delayed any significant interaction with Europeans for as long as possible. The only way they could do that is by making sure no European expeditions returned home. That's why we would be better off doing the same with any alien expeditions to our solar system. Hopefully, unlike the Native Americans, we can close the technology gap between the alien explorers and ourselves before they arrive in force. |
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