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This civilization encountered the [[Flood]] in approximately [[107,445 BCE]] and went to war against the parasite after discovering its true nature. After losing many planets to the Flood humanity desperately invaded a minor sector of the Forerunners' [[ecumene]], though, in at least some instances, they were actually sterilizing Flood-infected Forerunner worlds. The Forerunners responded violently to this aggression and [[Human-Forerunner wars|waged war]] with the humans and their San'Shyuum allies. The resulting conflicts lasted for a thousand years.<ref name="reclaimer">'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref> | This civilization encountered the [[Flood]] in approximately [[107,445 BCE]] and went to war against the parasite after discovering its true nature. After losing many planets to the Flood humanity desperately invaded a minor sector of the Forerunners' [[ecumene]], though, in at least some instances, they were actually sterilizing Flood-infected Forerunner worlds. The Forerunners responded violently to this aggression and [[Human-Forerunner wars|waged war]] with the humans and their San'Shyuum allies. The resulting conflicts lasted for a thousand years.<ref name="reclaimer">'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref> | ||
Forty years before the last conflict between humanity and the Forerunners, a human expeditionary group encountered an ancient being held in hibernation on a planet near the galaxy's edges. Under [[Yprin Yprikushma]]'s orders, this being, known as the [[Primordial]], was placed in a [[stasis capsule]] and transported to [[Charum Hakkor]] for study.<ref name="prim237"/> Human researchers found a way to communicate with the entity | Forty years before the last conflict between humanity and the Forerunners, a human expeditionary group encountered an ancient being held in hibernation on a planet near the galaxy's edges. Under [[Yprin Yprikushma]]'s orders, this being, known as the [[Primordial]], was placed in a [[stasis capsule]] and transported to [[Charum Hakkor]] for study.<ref name="prim237"/> Human researchers found a way to communicate with the entity, receiving no useful responses.<ref name="c271">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 271''</ref> Instead, the being revealed disconcerting truths about humanity's origins; this was believed by some to have caused the demoralization of human culture and thus contributed to their defeat against the Forerunners.<ref name="prim237"/> They also inquired the Primordial about the Flood; the answers they received were so traumatizing that many committed suicide.<ref name="c271"/> | ||
After a certain point, the Flood's rampage throughout human territory stopped. The Flood no longer infected humans and instead began to rapidly die out, with both humans and Forerunners sterilizing the remaining infestations.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 36-37''</ref> Based on this pattern, the Forerunners came to the conclusion that humanity had discovered a cure for the Flood: according to Forerunner records, the humans sacrificed a third of their total population, implanting them with destructive, artificially programmed genes used to target the Flood on a genetic level. In reality, however, the Flood had receded by its own volition after the sacrifice; no truly functioning cure was ever created or used by humanity,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 367''</ref> though both Forerunners and humans themselves remained under such illusion.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 53''</ref> | After a certain point, the Flood's rampage throughout human territory stopped. The Flood no longer infected humans and instead began to rapidly die out, with both humans and Forerunners sterilizing the remaining infestations.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 36-37''</ref> Based on this pattern, the Forerunners came to the conclusion that humanity had discovered a cure for the Flood: according to Forerunner records, the humans sacrificed a third of their total population, implanting them with destructive, artificially programmed genes used to target the Flood on a genetic level. In reality, however, the Flood had receded by its own volition after the sacrifice; no truly functioning cure was ever created or used by humanity,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 367''</ref> though both Forerunners and humans themselves remained under such illusion.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 53''</ref> | ||
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For much of humanity's history prior to the mid-26th century, virtually all artifacts and records of their former civilization had been lost to time. However, in the mid 2550s, after the [[Human-Covenant War]] had ended, small but significant discoveries began to trickle in about humanity's powerful past. On [[Heian]], ruins were found resembling a wide variety of human styles, including Greco-Roman, Middle Eastern, and East Asian, with subtle Forerunner themes. The [[Department of Xenoarchaeological Studies]] at the [[University of Edinburgh]] found the obvious elements of human architecture in the structures puzzling, wondering if their builders borrowed from human architecture or the other way around.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal''</ref> | For much of humanity's history prior to the mid-26th century, virtually all artifacts and records of their former civilization had been lost to time. However, in the mid 2550s, after the [[Human-Covenant War]] had ended, small but significant discoveries began to trickle in about humanity's powerful past. On [[Heian]], ruins were found resembling a wide variety of human styles, including Greco-Roman, Middle Eastern, and East Asian, with subtle Forerunner themes. The [[Department of Xenoarchaeological Studies]] at the [[University of Edinburgh]] found the obvious elements of human architecture in the structures puzzling, wondering if their builders borrowed from human architecture or the other way around.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal''</ref> | ||
Records of prehistoric humanity began to be encountered as well. On [[Onyx]], an artifact referred to as the [[Halo: Cryptum|Bornstellar Relation]] gave a testimony of the life of the Forerunner [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]], including the knowledge that humanity had once been a Tier 1 species.<ref | Records of prehistoric humanity began to be encountered as well. On [[Onyx]], an artifact referred to as the [[Halo: Cryptum|Bornstellar Relation]] gave a testimony of the life of the Forerunner [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]], including the knowledge that humanity had once been a Tier 1 species.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 230''</ref> This account was complemented by the testimony of the remains of [[343 Guilty Spark]], who related to listening scientists about his life as the prehistoric human [[Chakas]].<ref name="EH">'''[[Eleventh Hour reports]]''', ''part 4''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 376-379''</ref> | ||
In [[2557#July|July 2557]], the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] [[John-117]] encountered an archived personality of the Forerunner known as the [[Librarian]] on [[Requiem]]. She revealed the times of the ancient [[human-Forerunner wars]] to the Spartan, as well as the origins of the mechanical [[Promethean]]s, ancient humans who had been the first "conscripts" into the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s army during the last years of the Forerunner's [[Forerunner-Flood war|war]] against the Flood. The Librarian further revealed that she had been guiding humanity since their devolution, notably instigating the physical evolution of the select few humans who met the SPARTAN-II program's genetic requirements, as well as the creation of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|powered armor]] and even [[Smart AI|AI]]s like [[Cortana]], in an attempt to prepare humanity from an unknown threat. John would later share this information with the bridge crew of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.<ref name="reclaimer"/> At some point, the UNSC would discover some ancient human ruins with knowledge on a dead world, and a shattered starship with a vault full of unknown materials; with both discoveries, the UNSC would create the [[HELLCAT-class Mjolnir]]. | In [[2557#July|July 2557]], the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] [[John-117]] encountered an archived personality of the Forerunner known as the [[Librarian]] on [[Requiem]]. She revealed the times of the ancient [[human-Forerunner wars]] to the Spartan, as well as the origins of the mechanical [[Promethean]]s, ancient humans who had been the first "conscripts" into the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s army during the last years of the Forerunner's [[Forerunner-Flood war|war]] against the Flood. The Librarian further revealed that she had been guiding humanity since their devolution, notably instigating the physical evolution of the select few humans who met the SPARTAN-II program's genetic requirements, as well as the creation of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|powered armor]] and even [[Smart AI|AI]]s like [[Cortana]], in an attempt to prepare humanity from an unknown threat. John would later share this information with the bridge crew of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.<ref name="reclaimer"/> At some point, the UNSC would discover some ancient human ruins with knowledge on a dead world, and a shattered starship with a vault full of unknown materials; with both discoveries, the UNSC would create the [[HELLCAT-class Mjolnir]]. | ||
==Physiology== | ==Physiology== | ||
[[File:H4-Terminal-Prehistoric human BridgeOfficer1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This prehistoric human possessed a facial composition | [[File:H4-Terminal-Prehistoric human BridgeOfficer1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This prehistoric human possessed a facial composition identical to that of a modern human.]] | ||
While ancient humans exhibited a range of morphological variation,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 129''</ref> the ethnic group represented by [[Forthencho]] and his [[bridge]] crew were remarkably similar in appearance to modern ''Homo sapiens''. They possessed straight to wavy hair textures, thin to full lips, and an overall largely similar facial composition to their modern counterparts. They all had black or dark brown skin.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 236''</ref> Like modern humans, ancient humans had a range of different body types; for example, Forthencho was tall and muscular while [[Yprin Yprikushma]] had a short and stocky build.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 307''</ref> | While ancient humans exhibited a range of morphological variation,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 129''</ref> the ethnic group represented by [[Forthencho]] and his [[bridge]] crew were remarkably similar in appearance to modern ''Homo sapiens''. They possessed straight to wavy hair textures, thin to full lips, and an overall largely similar facial composition to their modern counterparts. They all had black or dark brown skin.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 236''</ref> Like modern humans, ancient humans had a range of different body types; for example, Forthencho was tall and muscular while [[Yprin Yprikushma]] had a short and stocky build.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 307''</ref> | ||
Despite the technological and biological achievements of their descendants, prehistoric humans naturally possessed more body mass and strength<ref name="s42"/> and were on average significantly more intelligent than modern humans.<ref name="wp hum"/> The Librarian said that, if not for their encounter with the Flood, prehistoric humanity's gene-plan could have surpassed that of even the Forerunners.<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminal 3]]''</ref> After fighting against the Didact for 53 years, | Despite the technological and biological achievements of their descendants, prehistoric humans naturally possessed more body mass and strength<ref name="s42"/> and were on average significantly more intelligent than modern humans.<ref name="wp hum"/> The Librarian said that, if not for their encounter with the Flood, prehistoric humanity's gene-plan could have surpassed that of even the Forerunners.<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminal 3]]''</ref> After fighting against the Didact for 53 years, at the conclusion of the human-Forerunner wars, Forthencho had acquired noticeable facial wrinkles. However, he still retained the body mass he possessed in his youth. Given the length of Forthencho's career (at least a thousand years) it can be concluded that ancient humans had much longer lifespans (a [[Bestarium|record]] made by [[343 Guilty Spark]] on Reclaimers and specifically [[John-117]] indicated that one of the physiological aliments he possesses is modern humanity's "highly truncated lifespan") than their modern descendants (whether naturally, due to advanced medical science, or a combination of the two), although their lifespans still paled in comparison to those of the Forerunners.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 234''</ref> | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
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==Technology== | ==Technology== | ||
[[File:H4-Terminal-Forthencho-Fleet.jpg|thumb|250px|A prehistoric human space fleet preparing to sterilize a Forerunner planet during the initial Flood conflict]] | [[File:H4-Terminal-Forthencho-Fleet.jpg|thumb|250px|A prehistoric human space fleet preparing to sterilize a Forerunner planet during the initial Flood conflict]] | ||
In the decades prior to the dismantling of their civilization, humans were technological equals of the Forerunners in many areas, placing them on Tier 1 on the Forerunner [[Technological Achievement Tiers|technological achievement scale]]. | In the decades prior to the dismantling of their civilization, humans were technological equals of the Forerunners in many areas, placing them on Tier 1 on the Forerunner [[Technological Achievement Tiers|technological achievement scale]]. This was largely thanks to the efforts of Yprin Yprikushma, who encouraged humanity to study Forerunner technologies encountered in earlier conflicts with Forerunners.<ref name="prim237"/> Despite this, humanity's technological achievements were overshadowed by the Forerunners in many fields, including [[Astroengineering|megascale engineering]] and [[slipspace]] technology. For example, the humans were seemingly unable to construct megastructures on the scale of a [[Halo Array|Halo installation]],<ref name="p257">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 257''</ref> and their understanding of space-time reconciliation was inferior to that of the Forerunners, who were able to use their superior understanding of slipspace to an advantage by clogging the humans' slipspace channels and slowing their interstellar travel.<ref name="prim240">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 240''</ref> | ||
Humans of this time used [[artificial intelligence]] constructs known as servitors.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 34''</ref> These robotic intelligences assisted human scientists in reverse-engineering Forerunner technologies during the Forerunner wars, nearly bridging the technological gap between the two civilizations.<ref name="prim237"/> On Charum Hakkor, the humans built vast constructs supported by the Precursor structures; cities stretching to orbit along [[orbital arch]]es, described by [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]] as resembling ivy growing on great trees. In addition, they built energy towers and defense platforms operating at [[geosynchronous orbit]] and equigravitation,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 164''</ref> linked by virtually unbreakable Precursor [[Star road|filaments]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 118''</ref> Many human worlds were encompassed by vast railway networks, a technological achievement Forthencho took pride in.<ref name="p257"/> | Humans of this time used [[artificial intelligence]] constructs known as servitors.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 34''</ref> These robotic intelligences assisted human scientists in reverse-engineering Forerunner technologies during the Forerunner wars, nearly bridging the technological gap between the two civilizations.<ref name="prim237"/> On Charum Hakkor, the humans built vast constructs supported by the Precursor structures; cities stretching to orbit along [[orbital arch]]es, described by [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]] as resembling ivy growing on great trees. In addition, they built energy towers and defense platforms operating at [[geosynchronous orbit]] and equigravitation,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 164''</ref> linked by virtually unbreakable Precursor [[Star road|filaments]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 118''</ref> Many human worlds were encompassed by vast railway networks, a technological achievement Forthencho took pride in.<ref name="p257"/> | ||