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=== Evolution === | === Evolution === | ||
[[File:Elite-Dangerous-India-South-Asia.png|thumb|250px|[[Earth]]]] | [[File:Elite-Dangerous-India-South-Asia.png|thumb|250px|[[Earth]]]] | ||
The human species (Homo sapiens) evolved from apelike ancestor over the course of 6 million years BCE (Before Common Era). Scientific evidence shows that humans and the great apes have a common ancestor that existed 8 to 6 million years BCE. Earth's African continent is where much of human evolution occurred. Fossils dating from 6 to 2 million years BCE originate only in Africa.<ref name=":0">[http://humanorigins.si.edu/education/introduction-human-evolution Introduction to Human Evolution | The human species (Homo sapiens) evolved from apelike ancestor over the course of 6 million years BCE (Before Common Era). Scientific evidence shows that humans and the great apes have a common ancestor that existed 8 to 6 million years BCE. Earth's African continent is where much of human evolution occurred. Fossils dating from 6 to 2 million years BCE originate only in Africa.<ref name=":0">[http://humanorigins.si.edu/education/introduction-human-evolution Smithsonian: Introduction to Human Evolution]</ref> | ||
A defining human trait to walk on two legs (bipedalism) evolved 4 million years BCE. Other human characteristics like a complex brain, using tools and capacity for language developed much later. Advanced human traits such as art, cultural diversity and symbolic expression developed during the last 100,000 years BCE.<ref name=":0" /> | A defining human trait to walk on two legs (bipedalism) evolved 4 million years BCE. Other human characteristics like a complex brain, using tools and capacity for language developed much later. Advanced human traits such as art, cultural diversity and symbolic expression developed during the last 100,000 years BCE.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
=== Agriculture === | === Agriculture === | ||
During much of human history, people lived hunter-gatherer lifestyles. The invention of agriculture in 12,000 BCE allowed people to live in permanent settlements which became cities and civilizations. As agriculture secured people's primary needs for food, this allowed attention to be focused on other things, like science, trade, technology, art, and innovation. Food production gradually expanded and fueled steady population growth, allowing Earth's population to swell from 5 million in 8,000 BCE to a peak of 8 billion by the start of early space colonization in the 21st century CE.<ref>[https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/development-of-agriculture/ The Development of Agriculture | During much of human history, people lived hunter-gatherer lifestyles. The invention of agriculture in 12,000 BCE allowed people to live in permanent settlements which became cities and civilizations. As agriculture secured people's primary needs for food, this allowed attention to be focused on other things, like science, trade, technology, art, and innovation. Food production gradually expanded and fueled steady population growth, allowing Earth's population to swell from 5 million in 8,000 BCE to a peak of 8 billion by the start of early space colonization in the 21st century CE.<ref>[https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/development-of-agriculture/ National Geographic: The Development of Agriculture]</ref> The devastation of [[World War III]] between 2044 and 2055 reduced the human population by over one billion and rendered much of Earth unsuitable for agriculture for a time, but humanity's spread to other worlds, plus the development of advanced automation, hydroponics, and [[terraforming]], permitted the total human population to exceed 6.6 trillion by the 34th century. | ||
=== Commerce === | === Commerce === | ||
The demand of individuals and businesses to trade easily led to innovations in commerce and finance. In 9,000 BCE people bartered goods they had in surplus for things they lacked, such as cattle, sheep, vegetables and grain. The first known currency was created by King Alyattes in the ancient kingdom of Lydia, modern-day Turkey, in 600 BCE. The first coin ever minted featured a roaring lion design. Bank notes were developed in around 1661 AD. An advantage of paper money was that it could be mass-produced without relying on rare or expensive raw materials like gold and silver; in spite of this, its value is more unstable than precious metals. The first credit card was introduced in 1946. The first decentralized digital currency, Bitcoin, was invented in 2009 and wireless payments gained popularity. The invention of money and commerce has been essential to developing trade networks, fostering cooperation and understanding between different cultures and peoples across Earth.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/money/11174013/The-history-of-money-from-barter-to-bitcoin.html The history of money: from barter to bitcoin | The demand of individuals and businesses to trade easily led to innovations in commerce and finance. In 9,000 BCE people bartered goods they had in surplus for things they lacked, such as cattle, sheep, vegetables and grain. The first known currency was created by King Alyattes in the ancient kingdom of Lydia, modern-day Turkey, in 600 BCE. The first coin ever minted featured a roaring lion design. Bank notes were developed in around 1661 AD. An advantage of paper money was that it could be mass-produced without relying on rare or expensive raw materials like gold and silver; in spite of this, its value is more unstable than precious metals. The first credit card was introduced in 1946. The first decentralized digital currency, Bitcoin, was invented in 2009 and wireless payments gained popularity. The invention of money and commerce has been essential to developing trade networks, fostering cooperation and understanding between different cultures and peoples across Earth.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/money/11174013/The-history-of-money-from-barter-to-bitcoin.html The Telegraph: The history of money: from barter to bitcoin] | ||
</ref> Entrepreneurship and innovation lead to the Industrial Revolution, starting in Western Europe in 1760 AD, and the Digital Revolution in 1970 AD with inventions like digital electronics. Commerce brought people and [[countries]] together through mutual cooperation, division of labour and trade. | </ref> Entrepreneurship and innovation lead to the Industrial Revolution, starting in Western Europe in 1760 AD, and the Digital Revolution in 1970 AD with inventions like digital electronics. Commerce brought people and [[countries]] together through mutual cooperation, division of labour and trade. | ||
=== Colonialism and Imperialism === | === Colonialism and Imperialism === | ||
In the 16th century to the mid-20th century several European maritime powers used their technological and military advantages to establish colonies and claim vast territories in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. European culture and technology spread throughout the less developed world. During the 19th century and early 20th century most of Earth's landmass was controlled by European powers.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism</ref> | In the 16th century to the mid-20th century several European maritime powers used their technological and military advantages to establish colonies and claim vast territories in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. European culture and technology spread throughout the less developed world. During the 19th century and early 20th century most of Earth's landmass was controlled by European powers.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism Wikipedia: Colonialism]</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism Wikipedia: Imperialism]</ref> | ||
World War I (28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918) was the first global war, and originated in Europe. World War II was the second global war (1939 to 1945) and had two opposing military alliances, known as the Allied and the Axis powers, comprising the majority of Earth's countries. World wars were different from previous wars, because they were fought between powers that had many colonies overseas. This meant that when two colonial powers went to war, their overseas territories went to war as well. The different ideologies and regimes from classical liberalism to national socialism, fascism and communism clashed in very destructive conflicts which killed tens of millions of people in both world wars. The remaining colonies gained independence in the mid-to-late-20th century, after World War II came to an end.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II</ref> | World War I (28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918) was the first global war, and originated in Europe. World War II was the second global war (1939 to 1945) and had two opposing military alliances, known as the Allied and the Axis powers, comprising the majority of Earth's countries. World wars were different from previous wars, because they were fought between powers that had many colonies overseas. This meant that when two colonial powers went to war, their overseas territories went to war as well. The different ideologies and regimes from classical liberalism to national socialism, fascism and communism clashed in very destructive conflicts which killed tens of millions of people in both world wars. The remaining colonies gained independence in the mid-to-late-20th century, after World War II came to an end.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I Wikipedia: World War I]</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II Wikipedia: World War II]</ref> | ||
== Modern History == | == Modern History == | ||
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=== Consolidation === | === Consolidation === | ||
By the 2030s, major resource problems forced humanity to look to the stars for a way to relieve population pressures on [[Earth]]. Commercial organisations planned missions to build the first colonies on the [[Moon]] and [[Mars]], as well as explore the rest of [[Sol]] for possible safe havens as political tensions on Earth rose to a boil.<ref name="EE" /> The outbreak of World War III from 2044 to 2055 ground these efforts to an immediate halt. The conflict saw multiple nuclear exchanges occur between various countries. The United States of America was able to avoid suffering any nuclear detonations on its soil thanks to its defensive laser grid, which combined ground turrets with armed satellites to disable inbound enemy missiles before they reached their targets.<ref name="UNMD">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b504aeaf04e9240913b9164 GalNet: Unexploded Nuclear Missile Discovered]</ref> When the war finally ended, over one billion people and many countries had perished, and the United States was the only major country left mostly unscathed.<ref name="EE">''[[Elite Encounters RPG]]''</ref> It quickly expanded into the [[United States of the Americas]], a multi-continental hyperpower that dominated Earth, and eventually, as the last countries joined it, changed its name to "the Federation".<ref>Tourist | By the 2030s, major resource problems forced humanity to look to the stars for a way to relieve population pressures on [[Earth]]. Commercial organisations planned missions to build the first colonies on the [[Moon]] and [[Mars]], as well as explore the rest of [[Sol]] for possible safe havens as political tensions on Earth rose to a boil.<ref name="EE" /> The outbreak of World War III from 2044 to 2055 ground these efforts to an immediate halt. The conflict saw multiple nuclear exchanges occur between various countries. The United States of America was able to avoid suffering any nuclear detonations on its soil thanks to its defensive laser grid, which combined ground turrets with armed satellites to disable inbound enemy missiles before they reached their targets.<ref name="UNMD">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b504aeaf04e9240913b9164 GalNet: Unexploded Nuclear Missile Discovered]</ref> When the war finally ended, over one billion people and many countries had perished, and the United States was the only major country left mostly unscathed.<ref name="EE">''[[Elite Encounters RPG]]''</ref> It quickly expanded into the [[United States of the Americas]], a multi-continental hyperpower that dominated Earth, and eventually, as the last countries joined it, changed its name to "the Federation".<ref>Tourist Spot 0165, "Ancient History"</ref> | ||
=== Interstellar colonization === | === Interstellar colonization === | ||
The 22nd century saw the dramatic rise of corporate power as [[corporations]] stepped in to rebuild human civilisation. This was followed by the discovery of the first extraterrestrial fossils on [[Mars]], the launching of thousands of [[Generation Ships]] over several decades, and an explosive wave of exploration triggered by the invention of the first [[hyperdrive]] by [[Li Qin Jao]]'s team of engineers. Hyperdrives were originally applied to unmanned interstellar probes, but were soon installed on manned spacecraft which overtook most of the Generation Ships. Despite the huge dangers involved, a massive interstellar land-grab followed, fueled by the voracious corporations.<ref name=":1">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5597abc79657bab1445913c2 The Founding of the Federation | The 22nd century saw the dramatic rise of corporate power as [[corporations]] stepped in to rebuild human civilisation. This was followed by the discovery of the first extraterrestrial fossils on [[Mars]], the launching of thousands of [[Generation Ships]] over several decades, and an explosive wave of exploration triggered by the invention of the first [[hyperdrive]] by [[Li Qin Jao]]'s team of engineers. Hyperdrives were originally applied to unmanned interstellar probes, but were soon installed on manned spacecraft which overtook most of the Generation Ships. Despite the huge dangers involved, a massive interstellar land-grab followed, fueled by the voracious corporations.<ref name=":1">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5597abc79657bab1445913c2 GalNet: The Founding of the Federation]</ref><ref>Tourist Spot 0166, "Early Hyperspace"</ref><ref>Tourist Spot 0168, "Early Colonies"</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/586f796c9657ba3357039d07 GalNet: Galactic News: Hyperspace]</ref> | ||
The year 2242 saw the ratification of the [[Federal Accord]], a major turning point in human governance and interstellar colonization.<ref>Tourist | The year 2242 saw the ratification of the [[Federal Accord]], a major turning point in human governance and interstellar colonization.<ref>Tourist Spot 0174, "Federal Accord"</ref> The Federal Accord was adopted by [[Sol]], [[Tau Ceti]], [[Delta Pavonis]], [[Altair]], and [[Beta Hydri]], humanity's first five extrasolar colonies, and the Federation transformed from a global government into the first interstellar superpower, the "[[Federation|Federation of Star Systems]]". The advent of the Federation instilled some order within human space, which until that point had been an unruly free-for-all.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
=== Competition among superpowers === | === Competition among superpowers === | ||