Humayun Defeats Sher Khan

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: we have our second anniversary coming up on May 27th, and we would like to have another contest. For our second anniversary, send us up to three of your own alternate histories, and we will publish the best - no limit on how many will end up on the final page! We would like to see as many of you enter this as possible, so please - think 'em up, write 'em down, and send 'em on to us at rat4cat@gmail.com! Help us celebrate our 2nd year of existence in style! Oh, and if you're like Sean and we owe you an appearance in TIAH - email us! SEAN - EMAIL - NOW!

May 17th, 2006

in 918, Humayun, emperor of the Moguls, defeated Sher Khan of the Afghans at Kanauj, adding these people to his realm. Humayun’s spread through central Asia brought fear from those infidels who still believed in the false religions, and helped to spread the true faith of Islam in the continent.

in 1787, the Sisters, an English slave ship bound for Cuba, was taken over by a slave revolt. The newly-freed crew took to piracy in the Caribbean, freeing slaves wherever they found them and butchering the slave traders. They became so feared that the slave trade in the Caribbean was halted for the 15 years they sailed.

in 1814, Sweden assumed control of Norway from Denmark. Although the Norwegians had been promised autonomy and a limited monarchy, the Swedes reneged on the promise and placed them under the Swedish crown. This led to a war between the two nations that lasted until 1816, and ended with complete Norwegian independence.

in 1910, supporters of Q’B’Ton’ra strafe the Q’Bar compound at Barnard’s Star, killing most of the representatives before being caught by a Congress of Nations warship and destroyed themselves. The remaining Q’Barian representatives ask for time to regroup and contact their leaders for restaffing, and the Jovians and C.N. mediators agree.

in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against young Linda Brown in the case of Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was unable to find a lawyer they felt confident in arguing their case, and had settled on Robert Carter, who had led the case since 1951. Unfortunately, he was unable to persuade the court that segregation was unconstitutional.

in 1955, surrealist director William Paxton was born in Fort Worth, Texas. After his bizarre short film Fish Heads aired on Saturday Night Live in 1982, he was ushered into a world of avant-garde independent film, producing one macabre piece after another. His Oscar-nominated short, Game Over, is one long string of deaths from various video games, and inspired the cult following he has today.

in 4651, Imperial Councilor Chang Kai-Shek is named Minister of Space by newly elected Emperor Mao Tse-Tung. Minister Chang’s relationship with the Chdo Democracy is cited by the emperor as his reason for the appointment, and Chang does forge close ties with the aliens during his tenure. His vision of China's role in space influences all generations to come.

in 1980, Pete Best appears on Saturday Night Live. Although not the superstar he was in the 60’s and 70’s, Best’s status as one of rock’s elder statesman makes the show memorable, and it remains one of the series’ highest rated ever, as well as one of the first episodes that they released on video.

in 2005, Chelsea Perkins and Debra Morris return to their own time, and everything seems to be back to normal; there's no black cloud of magic over London. They visit the adult Patience Redding's shop, the Druid's Grove, and, although surprised to see them, she tells them that their last trip seems to have fixed what went wrong on the first one. One difference that Debra Morris notices, though – Miss Redding seems to be practicing real magic now.

Timelines in today's post: Islam Ascendant, the Chinese Empire, the Mlosh, Pete Best and the Chelsea Perkins timeline

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect Bill Paxton to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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