17 Historical “What Ifs” That Would Have Changed Everything
History’s path has been determined by countless decisions, chance events, and narrow margins. The world we know today exists because of specific moments that could easily have gone differently. These pivotal junctures—where alternate choices or outcomes might have dramatically reshaped our world—offer fascinating glimpses into roads not taken.
Here is a list of 17 historical turning points where slight changes could have completely altered the course of human history.
The Mongol Retreat from Europe
The Mongol army under Batu Khan was decimating Eastern Europe with seemingly unstoppable momentum. They abruptly turned back after reaching Hungary, likely due to the death of Great Khan Ögedei.
Had they continued westward, they might have conquered a politically fragmented Europe unprepared for their tactics. Western civilization as we know it could have developed under Mongol influence, potentially delaying the Renaissance and Enlightenment by centuries.
Alexander’s Longer Life
Alexander the Great died at just 32 years old, leaving his massive empire without clear succession. Had he lived another 20 or 30 years, he might have successfully consolidated his rule and potentially expanded further into India, Arabia, or even Rome.
An enduring Hellenistic empire could have dramatically accelerated cultural and technological exchange between East and West. This could have potentially advanced human progress by centuries.
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The Success of the Arabic Siege of Constantinople
An Arab force nearly captured Constantinople but was repelled. Had they succeeded, Islam might have spread throughout Eastern Europe much earlier and more thoroughly.
The entire religious map of Europe would have been redrawn, likely eliminating the Orthodox Church. This might have potentially threatened Western Christianity before it could firmly establish itself.
The Survival of the Library of Alexandria
The destruction of the Library of Alexandria represents one of history’s greatest losses of knowledge. Had it survived intact, centuries of Greek, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern scholarship would have been preserved.
Scientific and mathematical discoveries that took until the Renaissance to rediscover might have been common knowledge. This could have potentially accelerated human development by a millennium.
Native American Disease Resistance
The European conquest of the Americas was facilitated by devastating diseases that wiped out up to 90% of indigenous populations. If Native Americans had possessed immunity to these diseases, European colonization would have faced vastly stronger resistance.
The Americas might have developed as a patchwork of indigenous nations and limited European settlements. This would have completely reshaped world history.
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The Victory of Carthage Over Rome
During the Second Punic War, Hannibal nearly conquered Rome. Had Carthage prevailed, Mediterranean civilization would have developed along Phoenician rather than Roman lines.
Without Roman law, engineering, and governance as foundations, Western civilization would be unrecognizable today. Carthaginian trading networks might have created a more mercantile rather than militaristic legacy.
Napoleon’s Victory at Waterloo
Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo ended his remarkable career and cemented British dominance. Had he won this crucial battle, he might have maintained control of France and continued his reshaping of European political structures.
The map of Europe, colonialism, and the timeline of nationalism and liberalism would have developed differently. This might have potentially delayed the rise of Germany and accelerated decolonization.
A Confederate Victory in the American Civil War
Had the Confederate States successfully secured independence, North America would contain at least two rival nations with profoundly different economic and social systems. Slavery would have persisted longer, and the United States would not have become the unified superpower that dominated the 20th century.
The entire course of world events, from World Wars to the Cold War, would have unfolded differently.
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The Success of the Roosevelt Assassination Attempt
Just weeks before taking office, President-elect Franklin Roosevelt survived an assassination attempt in Miami. Had the bullet struck him rather than Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, Vice President-elect John Nance Garner would have become president.
Without Roosevelt’s leadership through the Great Depression and World War II, the New Deal might never have happened. American war strategy would have been dramatically different.
Hitler’s Acceptance to Art School
Before his political rise, Adolf Hitler twice applied to the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and was rejected. Had he been accepted, he might have pursued an artistic career rather than entering politics.
Without Hitler’s specific brand of charismatic extremism, the Nazi party might never have gained significant power. This could have potentially averted World War II and the Holocaust.
The Success of the Plot to Kill Hitler
Operation Valkyrie—the plot to assassinate Hitler—nearly succeeded. Had the bomb been placed slightly differently, Hitler would have died, and the conspiracy of military officers might have negotiated peace with the Western Allies.
This could have ended the war earlier, saving millions of lives. It might have also potentially prevented Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and the subsequent Cold War.
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The Survival of the Roman Empire
Rome’s fall wasn’t inevitable. With different leadership decisions and reforms, the Western Roman Empire might have weathered its 5th-century crises.
A continuing Roman civilization could have maintained technological and cultural continuity. This might have potentially avoided Europe’s medieval period entirely.
The Renaissance might have been unnecessary because classical knowledge would never have been lost.
Chinese Maritime Dominance
Chinese admiral Zheng He led massive naval expeditions throughout the Indian Ocean, commanding ships far larger than anything in Europe. Had China continued these voyages rather than turning inward, they might have established global trade networks and colonies before Europeans.
World history would have centered on Chinese rather than European expansion and influence.
The Discovery of Antibiotics in Ancient Times
Certain ancient civilizations, particularly Egyptians, used moldy bread on wounds—unknowingly utilizing primitive antibiotic properties. Had someone systematically studied and refined this practice, discovering antibiotics thousands of years early, countless historical figures might have survived infections.
Population growth, warfare outcomes, and intellectual development would have followed entirely different trajectories.
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The Survival of Genghis Khan’s Empire
Genghis Khan’s empire—the largest contiguous land empire in history—fragmented after his death. Had he established a stable succession system, the Mongol Empire might have endured for centuries rather than splitting into separate khanates.
A unified Eurasian power could have facilitated unprecedented trade and cultural exchange between East and West. This might have potentially accelerated global development.
Different Outcomes in the Cold War
Several moments during the Cold War nearly escalated to nuclear conflict—the Cuban Missile Crisis being the most famous. Had any of these confrontations led to nuclear exchange, human civilization might have been devastated.
Conversely, had the Soviet Union reformed differently under Gorbachev, a democratic Russia might have emerged with less antagonism toward the West. This might have created a more cooperative post-Cold War order.
The Failure of the Internet
The internet’s development wasn’t inevitable. Had ARPANET’s funding been cut or key innovations not occurred, global digital connectivity might have developed decades later or along entirely different technological lines.
The information revolution might have been delayed or taken different forms. This could have dramatically altered 21st-century economics, politics, and social interactions.
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The Crossroads of Yesterday and Tomorrow
These historical inflection points remind us that history isn’t predetermined. The world we inhabit exists because of countless decisions and chance events that could easily have gone differently.
Understanding these pivotal moments helps us appreciate both the fragility and resilience of human civilization. It may also make us more thoughtful about the consequential choices we face today.
Our present actions, like those of our ancestors, may create dramatic forks in the road that future generations will look back upon as their own historical “what ifs.”
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