there is a theory (some say crankcase, but who really knows, the wright bothers were called cranks) that all of time exist in a single point, and its only the perception that makes it appear to flow. that means the big bang, and the final entroy occured simultaniously. everything in between was just percieved to happen in order. according to this theory, to travel in time, only perception must be altered.
another theory is that if you were to go into the past, you might change things, but unless you were extreamly agile about it, something would happen to make it seem the same. example is that if you went back into to stop booth from assisnating president lincon, some else would kill him, perhaps accidently, and booth would get the blame.
its all theory, until someone gets hurt.