A towel of course. Never forget your towel.
The internet, because I can’t live without the internet anymore.
And a game where I can take another 3 items with me…
It really depends. Either a permanent ink pen + something to write with, praying that I can make a record that will outlive me…
A waterproof kindle (or similar ereader) loaded with an offline copy of wikipedia and a solar charger + usb cable might be right up there.
Probably a good knife. A really good backpack, perhaps? A first aid kit instead?
It is challenging to decide, because here is the thing: if I am put in the middle of nowhere, I am going to be a stranger at the mercy of whoever I happen to meet first, or whoever in power happens to hear of me first. So, chances are I, foreigner who does not speak the local language, would not fare rather well. In this one, self-defense tools, such as the knife, and other camping-useable gear (covers, first aid kits, water filtration systems, etc) would be immensely more useful than other options.
If, instead, I was dropped somewhere near somebody sympathetic, or at least not bound to kill me immediately, I might manage (assuming I survive the environmental shock) to become useful enough to not kill. Here, wikipedia would certainly be useful, and at that point I might make enough to resolve the record-keeping aspect by virtue of getting compensated.
In this later case, besides the kindle + solar charger combo, I would bring my DSLR (and it would be a DSLR and not a Mirrorless, or other such cameras). I have a really neat variable travel lens that should be very damn useful for the military (either for a general or for scouts), and it should work with no batteries for seeing.
An axe, a hammer, a chisel.
They would be higher quality than anything in the time period and I would go to a blacksmith and use them to trade for an education in metallurgy. I would help bring as much modern metalwork into the past and move them away from lead in their waterways and the madness that befell Rome.
If you bring a thing, does that include the things contents? Say if you were to say “My handgun” would that include the bullets inside of it? Where do you draw that line? I have a bag packed full of useful items, if I say that bag, will it be empty when I get there?
The contents will be replaced with equivalents from the day, that may or may not function together with your modern item.
- Leatherman Surge v2 multitool. Tools are always useful.
- The Pocket Ref book by Thomas J. Glover
- English to Latin Dictionary
Phone, power bank, charger
probably downloading all of wikipedia (in latin, greek and english) if I have prep time
and cant forget the classic time machine flier
locating the early churches with the icyths
teaching them a lot of modern stuff
talking with the church fathers would be a dream come true
My sturdiest knife, a big bag of road salt, and a book.
If I get to choose to appear in civilisation, I’ll probably bring a mathematics handbook with the last two millennia of formulae. If unknown where I get dropped, probably a mechanical engineering handbook.
I have a decent chance surviving to civilisation with the knife, I can pay my way with the salt for a bit, and I might pull off advancing industrialisation in spite of slavery.
- “Science for Dummies” book
- “Latin for Dummies” book
- “Engineering for Dummies” book
I would try to jump-start science way earlier to see what would happen. This would be pre-gold rush and pre-oil, so most of earth’s resources are still present.
Ideally, try to advance science while avoiding global warming this time around.
Well the somewhat good news is the Romans were close to a steam powered Renaissance but they just thought it was a toy. You could make steam powered rail roads and really fuck up the timeline.
A lockable shipping container full of salt that I can open
A printed water/UV proof copy of wikipedia
A solar powered all-terrain electric truck with airless tires, bullet proof tinted glass and camper shell on bed, built from a collaboration of the most accomplished subject matter experts in each related discipline, from around the world, with an unlimited budget.
You have that at home?
I’m a citizen of north america in 2026. That is my home if the alternative is Rome in 75bc.
Also, yes.
A board game, my guitar and a toothbrush.
SPF 50+ sunscreen, a towel, and my bicycle.
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That teach yourself Latin book I have but never read
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My rifle
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A box of ammo for the rifle
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I’m thinking… Probably anything made of gold, for money. Then a good steel knife.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand.
Hmm.
HMMMMMM.
I want something to impress them with but… I am also trying not to get robbed because I have some fancy thing that is super ostentatious that will wow people and then easily can be taken away.
Maybe clothes of some sort…
Or…
What doesn’t require batteries or energy but is still cool to have. A zippo lighter will run out of fuel but you could get a lot of mileage out of that.
I feel like you would want to minmax materials and tech, but it depends how long it would last.
Maybe… An encyclopedia? But that is kind of meh.
If I had drugs or LSD or ecstasy or research chemicals I’d bring that but… That would only be good as long as they lasted and in the end you’d just trade them for shit anyway after being blazed out of your skull just roaming the streets of Rome hoping you wouldn’t get shanked…
Oh wait, def an English-Latin parleur. But I don’t have that at home.
Encyclopedia is a good one actually, all that knowledge (and history). You could bet on political/war outcomes, and invest in materials tech.
In hindsight, I am thinking one would probably get shived and die within the first 48 hours regardless of what one’d bring. They’d just steal it from you, and even if you brought something of extravagant value, where the fuck would you sell it? You’d have no channels and no connections, you’d just get robbed.
Maybe something that is so impressive that you’d be able to get like…
Fuck no you’d just get fucking stabbed honestly.
1.) Toolbox with simple tools like pliers, hammers, wrenches, prybars. I don’t feel like Id have much use for modern wrenches.
2.) Compound bow. (The quiver and arrows are attatched to the bow) For those who dont know, modern archery is wild. There are bows that will move arrows, with surgical steel blades, over 100 meters a second. Accurately.
3.) A cardboard tube full of blank paper and drawing tools.
That sounds like a lot more then 3 items
Naw, one item includes everything inside it.
Which is why I pick my house as one of my items.
Solar battery, ebike, and solar panels
