The actual date of the destruction of the Library of Alexandria is not known, but it has been suggested that that event may have inaugurated the Dark Ages, which set back the progress of western science and technology for over a millennium.

Imagine what might have happened if the course of science and technology had been other than it actually was. Perhaps the Dark Ages had never happened, perhaps it happened at some other time, perhaps it was shorter or longer than history records, perhaps it’s still happening…

In this challenge, take a historical person (or people, provided that they all existed at the same time), and put them into a situation where their science or technology is different. Perhaps, for example, Galileo might be working on repairing the optics of a space telescope (but one not named ‘Hubble’ obviously), or perhaps Oppenheimer is the inventor of gunpowder, or perhaps Julius Caesar christens one of his new aircraft carriers.

No other restrictions. Have fun.