It's Good to Travel

Alright, so picking up from my previous time travel post, I'm hypothesizing traveling to Europe circa 1500. I already talked about arriving in Europe and traveling to Florence, Italy, in 1500. It probably won't make much sense without the lead up, so I suggest looking at part one. I pick up in late 1504 ...

I travel to Rome with Michaelangelo, and secure the patronage of Pope Julius II to create a second academy. Doing so would further tie Florence to the Vatican, and gain favor with the Pope. After his successful campaign in 1506, Julius has a good relationship with France and Germany, and he then creates the Swiss Guard.

I would attempt to demonstrate the success of the Florence militia in order to be involved in the training of the Guard. I would promote the role of Florence in the creation of an independent Italy as a nation state. This line of thinking would mirror that of Pope Julius.

Through the improved relationship between the Pope, Florence and the Academy cadre, it would be possible to conciliate between the Medici family and Florence, preventing the wars that would weaken Italy and doom both the Republic of Florence and the Pope's intentions. Support of the Medici, a potent noble merchant family with a history of patronage for the arts, philosophy and medicine, would solidify Florence as a mercantile city state within an emerging Italy.

Thus forward, my aim would be to obtain a place in the Florence Great Council alongside the Medici faction, and consolidate the economic and military might of the city. In 1509, Pisa will attack the city, but the improved militia will prove its might by soundly trouncing Pisa, which should be followed with expansion into Venice alongside the League.

In 1513, Pope Julius will catch fever. However, medical aid will improve his chances of survival. Doing so will allow him to transfer leadership of the Holy League to his successor, Pope Leo X, a leader of the Medici family who will be sympathetic to the cause of a loyal Florence in the face of Martin Luther. Religious discourse and political pragmatism may convince Pope Leo X and his successor to adopt some of Luther's accepted liberalization, in order to prevent the schism.

By 1520, Italy has been relatively stable and profitable for 15 years. France, Germany and the Vatican have decent relations, and are no longer capable of dealing with Italy city by city. Now secure under the authority of a liberated Rome and the military industrial power of an expanded Florence, Italy can take advantage of the renaissance academies that have been set up throughout the country (in Pisa, Venice, Rome, Florence, etc.) Science, health and education flourish throughout the newly founded nation, spread through the merchant trading ships throughout Europe and as far as Asia. The burgeoning middle-class fuels an economic boom, and induces slow political democratization. The support of the Medici, and nobles as a whole, will be maintained by showing them how to maintain their position through mercantilism, and eventually capitalism.

Barring an unlikely joint attack by Germany and France, Italy is ready to begin an industrial revolution 300 years ahead of schedule. A major war (effectively a smaller Great War) should start within 20 years, but it is unlikely that other nations will be able to comprehend the strategy behind the new technologies, and their attacks will fail.

Basic knowledge of the rifled flintlock musket, the bayonet and trench warfare would revolutionize the military, bringing it to late 1800 technology. Even the minie ball (a pointed bullet that expands to fit the barrel groves), which marked the huge casualties of the American Civil War, is a relatively simple advancement if one understands the basic principles of a rifle.

Indeed, I encourage the belief that these advancements have nothing to do with my specific knowledge, but rather the collective knowledge that any modern educated person holds. Most people know that bullets shouldn't rattle around in the barrel, even if they don't realize how to utilize soft lead to do it. The same could be said of the basic industrial line, if not manufacturing design.

Comparatively, the enemy would be using cavalry, pikemen, archers/crossbows, and a smattering of matchlock arquebuses and cannon artillery. The protection of the trenches would prevent the discipline problems that plagued early gun battles, improving the firing rate and demoralizing the enemy.

Once supplemented with rifled artillery, the Italian army could expand at will. So long as Italy does not over-extend itself, it should be able to weather the war on a defensive front, and then exploit the Americas to begin the last great expansion.

I should be able to live until about 1555, when I will be 77. Depending on the success of the war, I should be able to live out my days as Governor of an Italian-speaking American colony with circa 1900 technology.