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alternate history
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alternate history

fiction
Also known as: alternative history
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Quick Summary

Alternate history, also known as uchronia, is a genre of fiction that explores "what if" scenarios by altering a key historical event or figure. It imagines a different course of history based on a specific point of divergence.

This genre often delves into the consequences of such changes, creating fictional narratives that can be set in parallel universes or explore different timelines. Popular historical periods for alternate history include World War II and the American Civil War, but it can also explore more fantastical premises, such as a surviving Roman Empire or a world where dinosaurs did not go extinct. The concept allows for the deployment of real historical figures in fictional contexts, offering unique narrative possibilities.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. alternative history
  2. science fiction - Alternate histories and parallel universes

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