Q&A · 4:23:50-4:25:20

Warrior and Black Prince at Constantinople in 1452

Two ironclads appearing at Athens in 1452 could intervene at Constantinople, using protected naval gunfire and marines behind the walls.

Question

What if Warrior and Black Prince appeared at Athens in 1452, and could they start an industrial revolution?

Short answer

Industrial change is considered possible, while the immediate proposal is to use the ironclads against Ottoman artillery and reinforce Constantinople's defenses.

Notes

The counterfactual places Warrior and Black Prince at Athens in 1452, one year before Constantinople fell. They are credited with the ability to begin industrial change, but the immediate issue is whether they intervene in the siege. Protected ships firing explosive shells could suppress Ottoman artillery from the water. Sending marines into an open-field skirmish is challenged because Ottoman cavalry could overrun them. A safer proposed role is to reinforce Constantinople's walls while the ironclads provide gunfire.