Edratman

I think I would be well suited for such a sojourn and I would require the "Babel fish" because I have zero language aptitude.

I am by education and profession a Metallurgical engineer and by nature an extremely hands-on person.

In sequence I would:
1. Seriously increase the production of iron. I would not even think about the steel conversion process of the iron, the cast iron of the era, with my improvemens would be much more than adequate. I would introduce the coking process of coal as an initial step of the increase.

2. Invent the steel plow. I know much of the concepts and with a little experimention have something almost as efficient as John Deere's within 2 years. This would increase agricultural production by a minimum of 3.
There is no greater single benefit to society than increased food production.

3. Invent the still. Nuff said! Actually would be a fantastic trade good.

4. Use water power to create large manufacturies of the local resources. If nothing else, linen from flax would be a great trade product. Additionally, the large iron production could be used to make a host of products.

5. Probably should be higher on the list, but introduce some sort of tea as the standard beverage to replace water. This would reduce an immeasurable amount of disease from drinking water that is from "the downstream side of the latrines", if you get my drift.

6. Reintroduce the Roman road concepts.

7. Another one that should be higher but isn't because of the hurdles, introduce universal education.

8. Finally go after sanitation.

nobodyreal

Since glass was already being made at the time, I would bring plans explaining how to make multi-lens microscopes, which was the groundwork for a lot of scientific breakthroughs, the most important one for the survival of an empire would be the discovery of bacteria and 'germs'.

With the ability to study things at a cellular level through microscopes, there would be great advancement in the health sciences taking place.

And I agree with the above poster, food production is the most important. With an abundance of food, more specialization is available, more scientists, more merchants, etc.

*back to drinking coffee*

Good thread!

Toltec

They already had one, called beer, immeasurably preferably.