Human: Difference between revisions

'''Humans''' (Latin: ''Homo'', meaning "Man") are a genus of [[Sentience|sentient]] species native to [[Earth]] and part of the primate family. Fossil records date the last surviving species (''Homo sapiens'', Latin for "wise man") as having existed for about 200,000 years before the common era. Around [[150,000 BCE|150,000]]-[[110,000 BCE]], before the [[human-Forerunner wars]], humanity had achieved [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 1 of technological achievement]], on par with the Forerunners, 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]]''). It is unknown if [[Precursors]] created these species or they manipulated these species' DNA to become humans.

Humanity achieved an advanced state early in its history, reaching a level of technological sophistication comparable to that of the Forerunners. Humanity resented Forerunner dominion over the galaxy, and as a result expanded their civilization outward along the [[Orion Arm]] to escape [[Forerunner]] control thousands of years before the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. At one point, humanity formed [[Human-San 'Shyuum alliance|an alliance]] with the [[San 'Shyuum]] and later [[Human-Flood war|warred against]] the nascent [[Flood]]. While humanity managed to drive the Flood out of the galaxy for the next several millennia at the cost of a third of their total population, the conflict led to [[Human-Forerunner War|a war with the Forerunners]], a war which humanity lost. As punishment, the humans were stripped of their technology, nearly all evidence of their civilization was erased from the galaxy, and the remnants of their species were exiled to their homeworld, reduced to a pre-technological state from which they would be forced to start again.<ref name="cryptum"/>

Humanity was one of many species indexed by the [[Librarian]] and preserved aboard [[Installation 00]]. Following the firing of the [[Halo Array]], they were returned to Earth.<ref>'''Halo Legends''', ''Origins''</ref>

The species was able to explore the space immediately surrounding their home planet in the 20th century, as the population began to advance beyond the capacity of the planet to comfortably sustain their civilization. The subsequent conflict over resources, economics, religion and politics on [[Earth]] gave way to numerous wars. Furthermore these tensions put great pressure on the species in the beginning of the twenty-third century, and the transnational organization that became the United Nations Space Command engaged in more frequent space colonization and sought to represent the entire species, even though no one state ever previously ruled the entire human race. The development of [[Slipspace]] travel in 2291 helped the UNSC engage in spreading the human race beyond their home solar system, relieving the serious ecological pressure on the home world.<ref name="timeline">'''Xbox.com''' - ''Halo Timeline''</ref>

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>

Prior to the [[Human-Forerunner wars]], humanity had achieved a remarkably advanced technological state, having developed interstellar travel, colonized many worlds outside of their solar system, and even having an understanding of [[Precursor]] technology. However, all records and examples of this former technology were obliterated following their war with the Forerunners. Humanity managed to develop rudimentary technology such as steam power roughly nine thousand years after their defeat.<ref name="cryptum"/> Despite this, they would regress back into hunter-gatherers following the firing of the [[Halo Array]] and the [[Library Project]]; human technology as we know it developed nearly a hundred thousand years after their recovery.

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.

In the 26th century human technology did not advance equally for every concept previously explored. The most basic technologies (such as the ballistic weaponry and the wheel) had undergone few principal changes, the explanation for this being their proven reliability over centuries of use. The technology worked and so did not require heavy alteration or major changes. Humans however did have other great advancements such as [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]s that are capable of reaching other star systems, as well as the creation of highly sophisticated [[Artificial intelligence|AI]]s that could serve to fulfill a versatile amount of roles.

*'''[[Weapon]]s:''' While still primarily based on projectiles and chemical reactions, human weapons are still more advanced than the weapons of the 21st century. They come with a variety of electronic gadgets such as ammo readouts and are significantly more reliable, seldom malfunctioning. They are also generally immune to [[electromagnetic pulse]]s. Still, there have been some advanced developments, such as electromagnetic accelerator weapons such as the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]], which is extensively used on ships as well as on vehicles and ground based weapons. Another electromagnetic weapon system, known as the [[railgun]], is used to a lesser degree. There have been developments in energy weapons such as the [[Spartan Laser]] and the pulse lasers used on [[UNSC prowler]]s. Although some of these breakthroughs could have been based off of captured Covenant technology, humans have previously used laser technology. Humans may have a good understanding of particle beam technology but have yet to utilize it in their weaponry. 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]].

*'''Ground 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. However, the humans' armored units seen throughout the [[Halo]] series (i.e. [[M808B MBT|Scorpions]]) have a small caliber cannon compared to even modern day MBTs. With only a 90 mm cannon, the UNSC Scorpion seems underpowered by today's standards, but there may be other advances not revealed which compensate for this, such as its high rate of fire compared to today's tanks, and advanced ammunition.

*'''Air vehicles:''' Most UNSC aircraft are designed with [[VTOL|Vertical Take-off and Landing]] capabilities, using adjustable jet engines for lift and thrust. It is possible that [[D77H-TCI Pelican|some]] incorporate [[Wikipedia:Lifting body|lifting body]] principles.

*'''Medical advances:''' Humanity has mastered a number of medical technologies, including [[flash-cloning]], which allows the re-growth of almost most body parts, such as internal organs.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''' - "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''', ''page 461''</ref> 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. Combat personnel also use [[biofoam]], an expanding semi-organic compound that fills and pressurizes a wound, numbing it at the same time. The biochemical and cybernetic augmentations used in the SPARTAN programs represent the peak of human medical technology in the field of biological enhancement. Human rebels also use "[[rumbledrug]]s", which degenerate the user's body but grant them superhuman abilities for a short time.

*'''Space-faring:''' During the mid 20th century, humanity experimented with rocket technology using it to build satellites and visit and subsequently colonize the [[Luna|Moon]] and beyond. With the advent of [[Slipspace]] engines allowing faster-than-light travel, the UNSC was able to expand well beyond the confines of the [[Sol system|Solar System]], colonizing a number of worlds. UNSC [[freighter]]s transport food and goods between colonies, while UNSC Navy warships protect trade routes from [[Space piracy|pirates]] and defend colonies from enemy assault. However, the weapons and combat abilities of human spacecraft are, as of the Human-Covenant War time period, still somewhat limited. Nevertheless, human ships' [[fusion drive]]s are capable of remarkable velocities, being able to cross interplanetary distances in less than an hour, often using gravity-assist maneuvers to an advantage.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 324-329''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 17''</ref>

*'''Gravity technology:''' As of the 26th century, humanity employs a variety of gravity-manipulating technologies, including two forms of [[artificial gravity]] aboard spacecraft and space stations. The first is a system of rotating "carousel" sections which generate an approximation of gravity through centrifugal force. Humanity has also developed a form of artificial gravity which does not require moving parts, but this technology consumes enormous amounts of power and spinning sections are generally regarded as being more efficient.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 211''</ref> Some UNSC ships, such as [[Phoenix-class colony ship]]s or [[UNSC frigate]]s are equipped with a form of [[anti-gravity technology]], as evidenced by their ability to operate in a planetary atmosphere without the use of thrusters.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Storm]]''</ref> Not all ships are equipped for atmospheric operation, however.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page ''40''</ref> Anti-gravity is not typically implemented on craft smaller than warships; conventional engine systems are used to produce lift instead.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 135''</ref>

*'''Communications:''' By 2552, humanity has managed to develop a communication system which enables instantaneous superluminal communication. In effect, this allows 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"/>

Unlike [[Sangheili]], their circulatory system is closed and consists of one heart and a network of blood vessels. They have red blood due to their iron-based hemoglobin, as well as two lungs which breathe mainly a nitrogen-oxygen based atmosphere. Externally they have more hair than most Covenant species, but not nearly as much as [[Brutes]]. They have an average sense of sight, but compared to Covenant species a poor sense of hearing and smell. They are omnivorous, meaning that they will eat both meats and plants, as well as consume high calcium foods, such as the milk of other animals.

Their bone structure is calcium-based and is designed to withstand moderate stresses, but is generally weaker than the skeletons of Jiralhanae and Sangheili. Their muscular system is, on average, also weaker than most large Covenant species. In theory at least, physical conditioning can still negate this somewhat as even a standard UNSC marine can be witnessed flipping a turned over vehicle, and with the right [[SPARTAN-II Augmentation Procedures|enhancements]] and [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|equipment]], overcome their physical disadvantages to an even further extent as demonstrated by the [[SPARTANs]]. If in extreme distress, humans can tap into hidden reserves of energy, known as an [[wikipedia:Epinephrine|adrenaline]] rush thus giving them drastically increased strength. This response is known as the "Fight or Flight" reflex.

It appears that the Forerunners chose humans to become the inheritors of the [[ecumene]] and technology along with Forerunners' sacred Mantle of Guardianship, as it was inherited by them 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 likely that [[the Librarian]] may have imprinted the humans with a [[geas]], a generations-long genetic command.<ref name="cryptum"/> This would explain the "natural" understanding of Forerunner interfaces some humans have demonstrated despite having no prior contact with Forerunner technology.