Human: Difference between revisions

*By the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]:  

'''Humans''', taxonomically referred to as '''''Homo sapiens''''' ([[Latin]] for "wise man") and known as '''ha''manune''''' (plural '''ha''manush''''') in ancient times,<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''Rebirth Narrative''</ref> are a [[sentience|sentient]] species native to [[Earth]] and part of the primate family. They are the only extant species of the formerly diverse [[Wikipedia:Homo|human genus]], all species of which were once grouped together as "humanity". Around [[150,000 BCE|150,000]]-[[110,000 BCE]], before the [[human-Forerunner war]]s, humanity had achieved [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 1 of technological achievement]], on par with the [[Forerunner]]s, although their catastrophic defeat by the Forerunners would see them reduced to a pre-industrial state as hunter-gatherer tribes, forced to achieve technological sophistication again.<ref name="cryptum">'''Halo: Cryptum'''</ref> By the mid-26th century, they would have been rated as a Tier 3 race, though it is possible they may have advanced to a higher Tier 2 after the [[Human-Covenant War]] by means of weapons research and development.<ref name="bestiarum">'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''[[Bestiarum]]''</ref>

''Homo sapiens'' is believed to have appeared in Earth's fossil record between approximately 100,000 and 200,000 years ago (an older branch of ''Homo sapiens'' known as ''[[Wikipedia:Homo sapiens idaltu|Homo sapiens idaltu]]'' was believed to have lived as far back as 160,000 BCE). While the exact origin of humanity is a hotly contested paleontological debate, one theory is that the first humans evolved from a genus of upright ape-like hominids called Australopithecus (likely ''[[Wikipedia:Australopithecus afarensis|Australopithecus afarensis]]''). The ancient race of beings known as the [[Precursor]]s, allegedly responsible for seeding the galaxy with life, are believed to have been somehow involved in genetically engineering early humanity along with other species in the galaxy, including [[Forerunner]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 194''</ref>

Modern humanity, ''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. In ancient 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.

Humanity was one of many species indexed by the [[Librarian]] and preserved in the [[Conservation Measure]] aboard a number of facilities, including [[Installation 00]]. Following the firing of the [[Halo Array]], they were returned to Earth.<ref>'''Halo Legends''', ''Origins''</ref> Choosing humanity to be the [[Reclaimer|successors]] to the Forerunners as stewards of the galaxy, the Librarian also imposed a ''[[geas]]'' upon humanity, which has been said to have greatly affected their development.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 375''</ref>

[[File:ObservingArtifact.png|250px|right|thumb|Ancient humans observing the construction of [[The Portal]].]]

 

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 Empire#Society|the Covenant]] its primary influence was no longer that of a mere framework to justify a large hierarchical system of differing castes and birthrights. In the later end of the 20th century, satellites were now using solar energy over primitive battery sources to power itself (as seen with earlier models) thus leading to a very long lifetime. And with this, satellites saw a much more massive and broader usage as means to send and retrieve data and communications, and additionally a method of navigation to both normal civilians as well as military purposes. Although much of the technology used during this time is disregarded as "primitive" by the standards of the 26th century, they were all somehow a precursor to all of technologies utilized later by the UNSC.

 

Simultaneously, this expansion was also to usher in promising new opportunities for humanity, as some of these colonies, such as planet [[Reach]] with its bountiful [[titanium]] deposits, could offer abundant stores of raw materials that may had otherwise been considerably unique and scarce on Earth. With the initial advent of interplanetary trade driving down the costs of what may had once been an expensive implementation of their technology - such as the forging of space-worthy ships and naval vessels - the effects from these carefully implemented first colonization projects helped to ensure that interstellar trade, travel and communication were to be more commonplace amongst the general populace in the ensuring centuries, eventually granting humanity the capacity to expand to hundreds of worlds and establish colonies at enhanced rates.<ref name="timeline"/> Meanwhile, the progress of human civilization was being subtly manipulated for hundreds of years by the [[Assembly]], a collective of AIs which considered themselves the "shepherds" of humanity.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Data pads]]''</ref>

 

The species as a whole was finally pushed into major conflict when, after several centuries of spreading throughout many solar systems and inhabiting hundreds of worlds,they discovered the violent, genocidal, theocratic [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], and were forced into the [[Human-Covenant War]]. 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>

 

Humans have been able to show great bravery when facing insurmountable odds. Some of the members of the Covenant wonder why the [[Hierarchs]] had refused to allow the humans to join them, as they had been able to hold steadfast even when outmatched in almost every way.<ref>'''Halo 2''', ''[[Conversations from the Universe]]''</ref> However, despite great courage and tenacity, the future seemed dark for the survival of the human race as the Covenant continued to methodically exterminate their colonies, marching ever closer to Earth, eventually discovering and invading it on October 20, 2552.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref> In the ensuing battles over possession of Earth, humanity suffered heavy casualties.<ref name="h3">'''Halo 3'''</ref>

Following the [[Battle of Installation 00|final battle of the war]] in [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]],<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref> the Human-Covenant War ended in a victory for humanity and their newfound [[Sangheili]] allies - the majority of the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] military having been defeated at [[Delta Halo]] by the Sangheili [[Fleet of Retribution]], while the rest were annihilated by the joint Elite-UNSC forces at [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. This victory came in time to save the human home world, thanks chiefly to the actions of [[Thel 'Vadamee|the Arbiter]] and Spartan [[John-117]]. The Human-Covenant War was officially declared over on March 3, 2553, when a [[Hillside memorial|memorial service]] was held near [[Voi]], [[Kenya]], to those fallen during the 27 years of fighting.<ref name="h3"/>

In [[2557]], humanity became involved in a [[Human-Promethean war|war]] with [[Promethean]] constructs led by a surviving Forerunner known as the [[Didact]], who once commanded the Forerunner armies against prehistoric humanity in the Human-Forerunner War. Allied with a [[Covenant remnant]] faction, the Didact defied the Forerunners' decision to pass down their [[Mantle]] to humanity and attempted to prevent their rise to a dominant species in the galaxy. During the conflict, contact was also made with mankind's ancient benefactor, the [[Librarian]], who had archived her personality and memories to assist humanity to guide them in their ascension to the Mantle.<ref name="halo 4">'''Halo 4'''</ref>

Human technology has undergone further advancements as a result of the reverse-engineering of Covenant and Forerunner technologies at the close and aftermath of the Human-Covenant War. These include, among other things, significant improvements in slipspace navigation and velocity as well as improved offensive and defensive weapons technologies, such as the more widespread adoption of [[energy shielding]].<ref name="glasslands"/><ref name="halo 4"/>

[[File:1226010015 Humans2.jpg|300px|thumb|The Arbiter and a number of humans, including the [[John-117|Master Chief]].]]

It appears that the Forerunners chose humans to become the inheritors of the [[ecumene]] and technology along with Forerunners' sacred Mantle of Guardianship, which they believed to have inherited from the [[Precursor]]s. The Forerunners re-encoded certain aspects of their technology (e.g. the Index) to only respond to human DNA to stop their advanced technology getting into the hands of other races. In a mixture of guilt and hope, they may have passed the torch to humanity, in hope that in the future they would defeat the Flood again, which with some help, [[John-117]] did. It is also known that [[the Librarian]] imprinted the humans with a [[geas]], a generations-long genetic command.<ref name="cryptum"/> This may explain the "natural" understanding of Forerunner interfaces some humans have demonstrated despite having no prior contact with Forerunner technology.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 84''</ref>