Human: Difference between revisions

|notable-person=<small>[[John-117]], [[Catherine Halsey]], [[Avery Johnson]], [[Jacob Keyes]], [[Miranda Keyes]], [[Preston J. Cole|Preston Cole]], [[Terrence Hood]], [[Thomas Lasky]], [[Chakas]]</small>

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By around [[110,000 BCE]], humanity had achieved a [[Prehistoric human civilization|thriving interstellar civilization]] nearly on par with the [[Forerunner]]s, although their catastrophic defeat in the [[Human-Forerunner War]] would see them reduced to a preindustrial state as hunter-gatherer tribes, forced to achieve technological sophistication again.<ref name="cryptum">'''Halo: Cryptum'''</ref> Thanks to the efforts of the Forerunner known as the [[Librarian]], however, humans were later elevated to the role of [[Reclaimer]]s, intended to inherit the [[Mantle]] the Forerunners used to hold. Humanity would not begin to rise from the confines of their homeworld until nearly 100,000 years later, with the re-invention of space travel in the mid-20th century and the beginning of space colonization in the later half of the 21st century. Following a series of [[Interplanetary War|violent conflicts]] across the [[Sol system]], humanity at large was brought under a single banner with the establishment of the [[Unified Earth Government]] in [[2170]]. Over a century later, the invention of the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] heralded a new golden age for humanity: no longer confined to their home system, humans [[human colonies|spread across]] the neighboring stars.<ref name="xbox">'''[[Xbox.com/Halo]]'''</ref>

''Homo sapiens'' is not the only species of human to have evolved on Earth, but they have either displaced or outlasted all other branches of the genus ''Homo'', all species of which were once collectively known as "humanity". In prehistoric times, there was significant contact between anatomically modern humans and other members of the genus, both cultural and genetic, coexisting with species such as ''Homo erectus'', [[Neanderthal|''neanderthalensis'']] and [[Florian|''floresiensis'']], and, based on residual genetic evidence, interbreeding with other species (1-4% of the DNA in European and East Asian humans is Neanderthal, while Melanesian people have 4% of  [[Denisovan]] blood). Modern humans usually stand 6' tall, though this varies depending on nutrition, genetics and other factors. Members of the species, like some [[Covenant]] species, are four-limbed and bipedal, which enables them to walk upright on two legs and use their arms and hands (including opposable thumbs) to hold and manipulate objects such as tools.

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{{Main|Prehistoric human civilization}}

===Post-Array recovery===

The development of human civilization as humans recognize it today started from the ability to harness the growth cycle of plants, producing edible food-energy in a systemic fashion. This time is referred to as the Neolithic Revolution, which occurred first on Earth over 10,000 years ago and soon spread to disparate human groups. The stability that came from systemic agriculture allowed for more permanent settlements and the development of ever-more-complex tools to further benefit the members of the species.  

Innovated toolmaking and the domestication of other species on Earth gave human populations greater and greater power to expand their populations, and trade ensured the diffusion of new technologies to adjacent groups. These exploding populations led to the formation of the first genuine civilizations over 8,500 years ago. The sites of such early cultures are believed to have formed in Southwest Asia and Asia Minor, and appeared elsewhere soon after. The infrastructure of civilizations continued to expand and grow in complexity as innovative technologies and larger populations allowed for increasing food-energy availability. Economic, political and scientific advancement continued to quicken as this species was able to automate many tasks in the Industrial Revolution.  

Essentially, Mankind was growing ever more efficient in how it applied itself to previous sciences and arts, and the art of the military would prove no exception to this pattern. There would be a rapid change in armed conflicts, starkly different from the primitive melee-oriented wars of the past; after two massive [[World War II|wars]] within the first 50 years of the 20th century, humanity saw the invention of such technologies as superior firearms and automatic weapons, [[radar]], tanks, missiles, jet engines, and ultimately the [[Nuclear weapon|atomic bomb]], which became the most powerful weapon then known. Atomic bombs ultimately led to nuclear warheads, which eventually became key components in human arsenals in the brutal war against the Covenant.

Additionally, with the creation of the Internet in the late 20th century, achievements from that era would dramatically revolutionize communication and data processing, further streamlining mankind's rate of technological progress. World politics also changed, with the early history of the [[United Nations]] beginning during this time period. The religiously neutral nature of many of these constitutional style governments also saw a relative diminish in the weight of ideological dogma, with scientific and logical explanations for phenomena and methodology rising in importance. [[Religion]] would remain a staple of human societies insofar as advocating personal ethical codes, though unlike [[Covenant religion|the Covenant]] its primary influence was no longer that of a mere framework to justify a large hierarchical system of differing castes and birthrights.

[[File:Shaw-Fujikawa Noble Prize.jpg|thumb|250px|Dr. [[Wallace Fujikawa]] (left), and Dr. [[Tobias Fleming Shaw]] (right), the co-creators of the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]].]]

===The Insurrection===

===The Covenant War===

{{Main|Human-Covenant War}}

After decades of internecine conflict, humanity as a whole was forced into their first major war against an outside opponent when they were discovered by the genocidal alien hegemony known as the [[Covenant]]. As the decades-long war wore on, the human species gained the reputation as a worthy adversary against the Covenant, despite the fact that they were technologically and numerically inferior. Despite the fact that humans could hold out and even defeat the Covenant on ground combat, the Covenant could in turn withdraw to space where they had virtually undisputed supremacy and would be capable of [[glassing]] the planet.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 17''</ref>

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===Post-war===

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==Technology==

In early stages, human technology and knowledge advanced through simple trial and error in an inefficient manner, hampering faster progress. Although humans had developed writing very early on in their history, it wasn't until the invention of printing that information and ideas could be mass-communicated in an effective manner. The development of the scientific method in later conjunction with improved and more efficient capitalistic resource management techniques during the lessons of the "Industrial Revolution" resulted in stark accelerations in the development of technologies and the acquisition of knowledge. New technologies were experimented and explored with advanced knowledge of underlying principles as talented individuals were better organized and better supplied, allowing extremely accurate and fast improvements to be made with minimized trials and costs. Such methods of thought and organization are a hallmark of humanity which differs from the Covenant who, lacking proper researching methods, would simply copy and reverse-engineer technology from ancient Forerunner artifacts via the [[Huragok]], whilst generally having no understanding of the underlying concepts themselves. Thus it it was said that the Covenant are "imitative" while the humans are "innovative" as the war progressed.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 132''</ref>

===Artificial intelligence===

===Weapons===

One of the largest breakthroughs came in the mid-20th century where humans discovered that [[nuclear fission]] and [[Nuclear fusion|fusion]] can be used as a weapon to cause a large explosion. By the 26th century, there are several types of [[nuclear weapon]]s in the UNSC's arsenal, intended for both atmospheric and exoatmospheric use. Innovation in this area would also converge in the creation of humanity's most devastating weapon during the war effort, known as the [[NOVA bomb]].

===Vehicles===

Though human vehicles still rely on crude wheeled or continuous track motion for locomotion, UNSC vehicles are still extremely advanced, incorporating high-strength materials with precision engineering to improve mobility and durability, while often mounting a variety of weapons or equipment to increase their flexibility. [[M12 LRV|Most]] have switched from fossil fuels to [[hydrogen]]-fuel cell engines or at the very least use [[Jotun|hybrid-electric engines]] for enhanced fuel efficiency. The most powerful of human vehicles usually run on continuous tracks that allow them to better distribute their weight over uneven ground and to better grip uneven terrain thus allowing for the vehicles to go places where other wheeled counterparts could never, but the vehicles are usually heavier than their wheeled counterparts.

===Medical advances and biotechnology===

The use of [[sterile field generator]]s means that surgery is not only safer to perform, with a greatly reduced risk of infection, but is also able to be performed in the field. Even critical injuries can be treated with relatively limited facilities;<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 140 (2003 edition)''</ref> with sufficiently sophisticated equipment such as that of the {{UNSCShip|Hopeful}}, the resuscitation of individuals traditionally considered dead is not unheard of.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 97''</ref> Biological death can also be delayed by placing an individual into cryonic suspension until proper medical care can be provided.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 329 (2001 edition)''</ref> A number of synthetic compounds have been developed to allow more rapid recovery from injuries or to ease the treatment of patients in general; these include [[biofoam]], [[bone-knitting polymer]], and [[polymerized hemoglobin]].

===Space-faring===

Human spacecraft are typically equipped with [[fusion drive|nuclear fusion engines]] for subluminal propulsion. These drives provide thrust via expelling either the fusion reactor exhaust or some other form of reaction propellant through a series of thruster nozzles. They are capable of remarkable thrust, allowing ships to cross interplanetary distances in a matter of hours, although gravity-assist maneuvers are commonly used to an advantage.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 324-329''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 17''</ref> Rocket thrusters using [[triamino hydrazine]] as propellant are used for attitude control and small-scale maneuvering.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 25''</ref>

===Gravity technology===

===Communications===

By 2552, humanity has managed to develop a communication system which enables instantaneous superluminal communication. In effect, this allows instant data transfer and real-time conversation over interstellar distances.<ref>'''[[Data Drop]]'''</ref><ref>''See [[Slipstream space#Notes]]''</ref> Prior to this, the primary form of long-range communication was limited to manually delivering the messages to the recipient by carrying messages aboard starships.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 35''</ref> For short-range communications, humanity employs conventional radio, as well as tight-beam laser<ref name="goo50">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 50''</ref> and [[maser]]-based systems.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 25''</ref> The various human communication systems are commonly shortened to "[[COM]]".<ref name="goo50"/>

==Population==

[[File:1226010015 Humans2.jpg|250px|thumb|The Arbiter and a number of humans, including the [[John-117|Master Chief]].]]

{{Main|Reclaimer}}

[[File:H4-Terminal-CharumHakkor-Battle.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Human-Forerunner War]] was a series of violent confrontations between the human and Forerunner species in ancient times.]]

During the events in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', a Covenant [[Minor Transgression|missionary ship]] traveled the edge of Covenant-controlled space and discovered a planet that was covered with Forerunner "Reclamation" glyphs, who were actually the humans. Later, a report of the planet's glyphs was sent to the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]]. He took the information to the [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] and he went to see the [[Oracle]] (the Forerunner [[Artificial intelligence|AI]], [[Mendicant Bias]], in the [[Forerunner Dreadnought|Dreadnought]]). Upon activation of the "Oracle", the AI proclaimed, "FOR EONS I HAVE WATCHED. LISTENED TO YOU MISINTERPRET. THIS IS NOT RECLAMATION. THIS IS RECLAIMER. AND THOSE IT REPRESENTS ARE MY MAKERS. I WILL REJECT MY BIAS AND WILL MAKE AMENDS. MY MAKERS ARE MY MASTERS. I WILL BRING THEM SAFELY TO [[Installation 00|THE ARK]]."

Truth, believing that the humans were actually Forerunners (rather than their inheritors), became panicked and realized that this information could destroy the foundation of the Covenant and, with it, his power. Utilizing his power as High Prophet, Truth proceeded to launch a massive religious crusade against humanity, the [[Human-Covenant War]]. At the end of the war, when Truth was preparing to force [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] to activate the Halo Array, he still believed humans to be the Forerunners' literal descendants, saying "''Your forefathers wisely set aside their compassion. Steeled themselves for what needed to be done. I see now why they left you behind. You were weak. And gods must be strong.''"

==List of appearances==