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{{Ratings}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|RVB|H1|H2|H3|HW|FOR|TF|FS|GOO|CH|TCP|UP|HGN|ILB|Iris}}
{{Wikipedia}}
{{Species infobox
|name=Human
|image=[[File:FUD Orenski Lasky Silva color adjust.jpg|300px]]
|latin=''Homo sapiens''<ref name="wp hum">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/humans ''Halo Waypoint'': Humans]</ref>
|classification=Mammal
|subspecies=
|diet=Omnivorous
|height=152.4–182.9 cm (5–6 ft){{Ref/Reuse|wp hum}}
|weight=61.2–90.7 kg (135–200 lb){{Ref/Reuse|wp hum}}
|distinctions=
|lifespan=80–90 years{{Ref/Reuse|wp hum}}
|homeworld=[[Earth]]{{Ref/Reuse|wp hum}}
|techlevel=Tier 3{{Ref/Reuse|wp hum}}<ref name="bestiarum">''[[Halo 3]]'', [[Bestiarum]]</ref>
|notable-person=<small>[[John-117]], [[Catherine Halsey]], [[Preston Cole]], [[Terrence Hood]], [[Forthencho]], [[Robert Watts]]</small>
|othernames=*By the [[Forerunner]]s:
**[[Reclaimer]]s
*By [[Erde-Tyrene civilization|ancient humans]]:
**Ha''manush''
*By the [[Sangheili]]:
**Dohmoh'Eenngahnehnn
**[[Nishum]]
*By the [[Kig-Yar]]:
**Flat-face
|languages=*[[English]]
*[[Human languages|Other languages]]
}}
{{Series/Species/Human}}
'''Humans''', taxonomically referred to as '''''Homo sapiens''''' ([[Latin]] for "wise man") and known as '''ha''manune''''' (plural '''ha''manush''''') in the Forerunner era,<ref name="rebirth">''Halo: Silentium'', [[Rebirth|Rebirth Narrative]]</ref> are a [[sentience|sentient]] species native to [[Earth]]. A part of the [[Wikipedia:Primate|primate family]], they are the only extant species of a formerly diverse [[Wikipedia:Homo|genus]] of multiple species once classified as human. 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.
 
Over [[107,445 BCE|110,000 years ago]], ancient humanity ('''archeohomina''') had achieved a [[Prehistoric human civilization|thriving interstellar civilization]] nearly on par with the [[Forerunner]]s, although their catastrophic defeat in the [[human-Forerunner wars]] would see them reduced to [[Erde-Tyrene civilization|a preindustrial state]] as hunter-gatherer tribes, forced to achieve technological sophistication again.<ref name="cryptum">''Halo: Cryptum'', Chapter ??</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 latter half of the 21st century. Following a series of [[Interplanetary War|violent conflicts]] across the [[Sol system]], contemporary 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 neighbouring stars.<ref name="xbox">[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm ''Xbox.com:'' Halo Storyline] (Defunct, Copy on [http://halo.bungie.org/misc/mstimeline2.html HBO Forums], [http://web.archive.org/web/20080424150226/www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm Wayback Machine], and [[Archive:Xbox.com/Halo/Timeline|Halopedia]])</ref>
 
At the end of the 25th century, this age of flourish was coming to an end, and the rising economic and political tensions across the colonies eventually culminated in a series of civil conflicts collectively known as the [[Insurrection]]. The war claimed millions of lives over the next three decades, but a far more dire threat loomed. In [[2525]], a theocratic alien hegemony known as the [[Covenant]] invaded the colony world of [[Harvest]], beginning the apocalyptic [[Human-Covenant War]].{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} For nearly three decades, humanity, under the emergency military governance of the [[United Nations Space Command]], was pushed back by the relentless Covenant war machine, until the tide turned in [[2552]]. With humanity teetering on the brink of extinction, the discovery of a Forerunner artifact known as [[Installation 04|Halo]] set in motion a course of events which would lead to the [[Great Schism|fragmentation]] and eventual destruction of the Covenant.<ref name="halo3">'''Halo 3'''</ref>
 
Following the end of the war, humanity began to take on a more active role in the galactic community formed by the Covenant's dissolution, with new technological developments sped up by the discovery of Forerunner relics. However, these developments have not yet elevated them to the [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 2 of technological advancement]] held by the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|wp hum}} Despite the defeat of the Covenant, humanity engaged in [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|smaller conflicts]] during the post-war years. In addition to threats from within in the form of renewed dissidence across the colonies, the UNSC was involved in hostilities with new [[Covenant remnants|Covenant factions]], some of which allowed humans to join, and other hostilites with the [[Ur-Didact]]'s reawakened Forerunner [[Promethean]] constructs which would later come under the command of the [[Created]].<ref name="halo4">'''Halo 4'''</ref>
 
==History==
===Prehistory===
[[File:Earth.JPG|left|thumb|200px|Earth, [[planet|home planet]] for humanity.]]
The origins of humanity lay in the ancient race of beings known as the [[Precursor]]s. Responsible for seeding the galaxy with life, the Precursors genetically engineered early humanity millions of years ago along with many other species in the galaxy, including [[Forerunner]]s, a would-be rival species to humanity.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 194''</ref> The Precursors achieved this by creating the two species from the same base stock, splitting a species they created apart so that they would evolve separately.{{Ref/Site|D=18|M=11|Y=2022|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/wintertime-wrap|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Wintertime Wrap}} The Precursors intended humanity to inherit the [[Mantle]], their assumed role of guardianship for all life in the galaxy and for countless generations prepared them for this role.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P16|Enc22|Page=16}} The Forerunners refused to accept this decision and subsequently [[Forerunner-Precursor war|rebelled against]] the Precursors. After exterminating the Precursors to the point of extinction, the Forerunners claimed the Mantle for themselves, using it not only as the basis of their society but also as justification for securing their own dominance for millions of years.<ref name="silentium">'''Halo: Silentium'''</ref>
 
===Early civilization and Forerunner involvement===
{{Main|Prehistoric human civilization|Erde-Tyrene civilization}}
Humanity achieved an advanced state early in its history, well over [[1,100,000 BCE]],<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 67-68''</ref> when their earliest, long-forgotten cultures attained space travel and spread across many worlds. The latest of these early civilizations, having risen to power around [[150,000 BCE]] after a series of technological dark ages,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 237-238''</ref> eventually reached a level of technological sophistication close to that of the [[Forerunner]]s. Humans of this era were on average larger and superior to modern humans in many respects, including intelligence and physical strength.{{Ref/Reuse|wp hum}} Humanity resented Forerunner dominion over the galaxy, and as a result expanded their civilization outward along the [[Orion Arm]] and across the galactic margin, away from the Forerunners' sphere of influence. This civilization formed [[Human-San'Shyuum alliance|an alliance]] with the [[San'Shyuum]] and later [[Human-Flood war|warred against]] the nascent [[Flood]]. While humanity lost a third of their population, the Flood was eventually driven out of the galaxy. However, 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 scattered remnants of their species were exiled to their homeworld, genetically "devolved" to more primitive forms and reduced to a pre-technological state from which they would be forced to start again.{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
[[File:ObservingArtifact.png|250px|thumb|Ancient humans observing the construction of the [[Portal at Voi]].{{Ref/Reuse|hlegorigins}}]]
Humanity was one of many species indexed by the [[Librarian]] and preserved during the [[Conservation Measure]]. Viewing humanity as special, the Librarian imposed a ''[[geas]]'' upon the species, which has been said to have greatly affected their development; in particular preparing humans for their role as [[Reclaimer|successors]] to the Forerunners as stewards of the galaxy.<ref>''Halo: Primordium'', p. 375</ref> Although the bulk of the indexed human population - as well as many of the formerly diverse human species - were lost when the [[Ur-Didact]] used the [[Composer]] on the inhabitants of [[Omega Halo]], the Librarian and her successor, [[Chant-to-Green]], managed to save enough specimens to successfully revitalize ''Homo sapiens'' and several other species.{{Ref/Reuse|silentium}} Following the firing of the [[Halo Array]], the surviving humans were [[reintroduction|returned]] to Earth,{{Ref/Reuse|rebirth}} being the first species the Forerunners reintroduced.<ref>''[[Halo: Fractures]]'', "[[Promises to Keep]]", p. 84-85</ref>
 
===Early post-Great Purification recovery===
[[File:HellenicSpartans Origins2.png|thumb|200px|Early post-Great Purification human warriors.]]
Circa [[97,445 BCE]], humans were returned to Earth and watched as the [[Portal at Voi]] was buried. [[N'chala]], one of the ancient humans, left an [[Out-of-place handprint]].<ref>''[[Halo 3: The Cradle of Life]]''</ref> Societies began developing from then on. One of the earliest known societies founded was around the 5th Millennium BCE, when [[Egypt]] was formed.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 296 (2011)</ref>
 
In this early recovery, these societies began fighting each other; the histories and tales of which would be passed down hundreds if not thousands of years. Examples include 300 soldiers from [[Wikipedia:Sparta|Sparta]] [[Battle of Thermopylae|defended]] [[Wikipedia:Greece|Greece]] at [[Wikipedia:Thermopylae|Thermopylae]] in [[480 BCE]]<ref>''Dr. Halsey's personal journal'', June 19, 2513</ref> and [[Wikipedia:Marcus Agrippa|Marcus Agrippa]] saving [[Rome]] at the [[Wikipedia:Battle of Actium|Battle of Actium]].{{Ref/Reuse|hsschapter4}}
 
Another specific example is during the [[Wikipedia:Second Punic War|Second Punic War]] at the [[Wikipedia:Battle of Cannae|Battle of Cannae]]. In this battle, the [[Rome|Roman Republic]] fought [[Wikipedia:Hannibal|Hannibal]]. Hannibal employed the pincer maneuver by ordering a tactical retreat of his forces and using horse riders to flank the Romans.<ref>''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]'', Part 2</ref> 
 
Other battles include the [[Wikipedia:Battle of Hastings|Battle of Hastings]] in 1066 and the [[Wikipedia:Battle of Agincourt|Battle of Agincourt]] in 1415.<ref>''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref> In the 1400s, the [[Wikipedia:Hundred Years War|Hundred Years War]] took place.<ref name="ilbenigma">''[[I love bees]]'', [[Axon Clips]], [[Axon Clips Chapter 4|Chapter 4]] - Herzog: "Enigma"</ref> In 1597, Admiral [[Wikipedia:Yi Sun-sin|Yi Sun-sin]] defeated a Japanese fleet of 133 vessels with only 13 ships of his own at [[Wikipedia:Myeongnyang Strait|Myeongnyang Strait]].{{Ref/Reuse|hsschapter4}}
 
On [[1456|August 24, 1456]], the [[Wikipedia:Gutenberg Bible|Gutenberg Bible]] is printed.<ref name="ILBBAugust">[http://ilovebees.blogspot.co.uk/2004/07/august-24.html ''blogspot'', ilovebees, August 24]</ref>
 
====Later recovery====
In the 18th-century, humanity developed the conical bullet{{Ref/Level|[[Halo: Reach]]|[[The Package]]}}{{Ref/Note|While Dr. Halsey mentions that the conical bullet was developed in the 18th-century, [[Wikipedia:Bullet#Pointed bullets|actual conical bullets]] saw their development circa the 1830s. The statement was likely intended to mean the 1800s, but for the sake of consistency the article will use the 18th-century designation.}} and discovered the [[Wikipedia:Piezoelectric effect|piezoelectric effect]].<ref>''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', July 30, 2511</ref>
 
Over the course of the 18th and 19th-centuries, the colonies of [[Britain]] diverged socially and economically resulting in a schism. In one case, a war.<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', [[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]], p. 256-258 (2010 edition, Vol. I)</ref> During the [[Wikipedia:War of 1812|War of 1812]], [[Wikipedia:Oliver Hazard Perry|Oliver Hazard Perry]] won control of [[Great Lakes|Lake Erie]].<ref name="hsschapter4">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Chapter 4</ref> The "first" [[American Civil War]] took place<ref name="tilatpdopjc">''Halo: Evolutions'', [[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]</ref> and was the first time a team of photographers took images of war.<ref name="jakecouragexbox">''Xbox.com'': Jake Courage (defunct, [https://archives.halopedia.org/halo3/jakecourage/ Archived])</ref>
 
As well in the early 1900s, the [[Wikipedia:Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Empire]] had uniformed field soldiers; the look and accent of which was emulated by the AI [[Turkish]].<ref>''[[Halo: Renegades]]'', Chapter 3</ref> [[World War I]] saw the first uses of flamethrowers.{{Ref/Reuse|halowarsbarracks}} In 1918, during [[Wikipedia:Operation Michael|Operation Michael]], [[Wikipedia:Oskar von Hutier|Oskar von Hutier]] used shock penetration strategy.{{Ref/Reuse|hsschapter4}}
 
[[World War II]] came to a close with the first usage of human [[Nuclear weapon]]s at [[Japan|Nagasaki and Hiroshima]].<ref name="encyctimeline">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', Timeline, p. 31</ref>
 
====Important historical figures and other elements====
Several historical figures included [[Wikipedia:Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin]],<ref>''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 3</ref> [[Wikipedia:Chester W. Nimitz|Chester W. Nimitz]], [[Wikipedia:Themistocles|Themistocles]], [[Wikipedia:Lysander|Lysander]],{{Ref/Reuse|hsschapter4}} [[Wikipedia:Jimmy Doolittle|Jimmy Doolittle]], [[Wikipedia:Lydia Litvyak|Lilya Litvyak]],<ref>''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'' Chapter ??</ref> [[Wikipedia:Cleopatra|Cleopatra]], [[Wikipedia:Genghis Khan|Genghis Khan]],<ref>''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', September 15, 2517</ref> and [[Wikipedia:Roland|Roland]] with his sword [[Wikipedia:Durendal|Durendal]].<ref>''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]'', [[Dominion Splinter]]</ref> A notable historical military unit were the [[Wikipedia:Cossack|Cossacks]].<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=chopperfiction ''Bungie.net'': The Brute Chopper]</ref>


===Formation of the UN and deepening ties===
[[File:HCEA Terminals AmericanAstronaut.jpg|thumb|200px|Early human steps on Luna.<ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)/One|Terminal 1]]</ref>]]
In [[1945]], the [[United Nations]] was founded.<ref name="encyctimeline"/> 16 years later, Soviet cosmonaut [[Wikipedia:Yuri Gagarin|Yuri Gagarin]] would be the first human being to orbit the Earth.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', Human Colonization of Space, p. 42</ref> Eight years after that, human beings would take their first steps on [[Luna]].{{Ref/Reuse|encyctimeline}} During the Cold War, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile was first created.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 329</ref> During the [[Wikipedia:Vietnam War|Vietnam War]], war photography was used to sway public opinion.{{Ref/Reuse|jakecouragexbox}}


During the 1970s, a small charismatic cult in [[North America]] was lost in the continent's tundras and left an elaborate cave dwelling as well as a unique language. This wouldn't be discovered until the 26th-century, at which point they were seen as a "lost tribe".<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions]]'', [[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]</ref> On [[1995|August 24, 1995]], Microsoft introduces the Windows 95 operating system.{{Ref/Reuse|ILBBAugust}} During humanity's early days of space exploration, they used rocket ships and [[Wikipedia:Space shuttle|space shuttles]].<ref name="hlegorigins">''[[Halo Legends]]'', [[Origins]]</ref>


{{Human Character Infobox
Around the early 2000s, fringe theories on humanity's origins began to emerge. The [[Society of the Ancients]], believed that aliens had helped humanity construct technologies.<ref>[http://206.16.223.63/mission.html SOTA mission page]</ref> [[Jonas Volman|Dr. Jonas Volman]] wrote the book ''[[The Castaway Theory]]'', that supposedly brings light to issues in human evolution.<ref>''[[Iris]]''</ref> The early 21st-century also saw the first planetary confirmations of what would eventually become [[Reach]].<ref name="halo.bungie.net">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel&cid=24020 ''Bungie.net'': Halo: Reach Project Page]</ref> The 21st-century also saw the legal cases of ''Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward'' and ''[[Wikipedia:Citizens United v. FEC|Citizens United v. FEC]]''.<ref name="saintspg10">''[[Halo: Saint's Testimony]]'', p. 10</ref>{{Ref/Note|An actual case named [[Wikipedia:Dartmouth College v. Woodward|Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward]] took place in 1819. However, the case in ''[[Halo: Saint's Testimony]]'' was mentioned as a 21st and 22nd corporate law case. While it was likely intended to be the 1819 case, it will be listed and treated similarly to it's description in ''Saint's Testimony''}} In [[2021]], the [[International Society of Civil Engineers]] was formed.{{Ref/Map|[[Halo 3]]|[[Orbital]]}}
|name='''Human ''(Homo sapien sapiens)'''''
 
|image=[[Image:1226010015 Humans2.jpg|300px|The Arbiter and a number of humans, including the Master Chief.]]
Humans in the 21st-century used fighter jets as well as stealth bombers and passenger aircraft.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', UNSC Ships, p. 261</ref> The early 21st-century was also when the first [[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance]] systems were created.{{Ref/Game|Halo 5: Guardians|Detail=Dynasty VISR description}} The disease of cancer was rampant in the 21st-century as well as the 20th-century.<ref name="midlothian"/>
|homeworld=[[Earth]]
 
|birth=
The United Nations first established the [[Unified Earth Government]] in [[2075]].<ref>''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', Glossary (p. 229)</ref> Luna, [[Mars]],  the [[Jovian Moons]] and several asteroids would first be settled by humans in [[2080]].<ref>''[[Halo Mythos]]'', Rise of Humanity (p. 47)</ref> [[2090]] and [[2103]] also saw the ends of large scale conflicts.{{Ref/Novel|[[Halo: Glasslands]]|Chapter=1}} In the 2100s, the British [[Houses of Parliament]] were destroyed in a domestic terrorist act.<ref>''[[Halo: Saint's Testimony]]'', p. 7-8 (Google Play edition)</ref> Gene therapy by the 2100s also functionally wiped out cancer.<ref name="midlothian"/>
|death=Life expectancy of humans have changed throughout time with medical advances, in the 21st century on average a lifespan was about eighty or so years. It is unknown how long humans in the 26th Century live.
 
|species=''Homo sapiens''
In response to the rising [[Koslovics]], the recently formed [[Frieden]]s bombed an embassy in [[Thynia]], [[Europa]] in [[2158]].<ref>''[[Halo Mythos]]'', p. 47</ref> The [[Jovian Moons Campaign]], [[Rainforest Wars]], [[Battle of Delambre]], [[Mars Campaign]] and finally, the [[Interplanetary War]] all came from the continued clashes between these factions. Sometimes these separate conflicts are collectively referred to as the Interplanetary war.{{Ref/Reuse|halowarsbarracks}} The 22nd-century also saw the court case ''[[The People v. Asklon Light Atomics]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|saintspg10}}
|gender=As sexually reproductive creatures, there are two biological sexes. Morphologically, the males are generally larger and have thinner pelvises. Though the true nature and extent of psychological gender differences is yet unknown, cosmetic differences between male and female vary with culture.  
 
|height=At Average: 5 feet 11 inches/ 180.34 Centimeters
===Space colonization===
|weapons=They are dexterous enough to be capable of using almost any weapon they can lift.
{{Main|Domus Diaspora|Human colonies}}
|equipment=
[[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]].]]
|vehicles=[[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion]], [[Warthog]], [[Pelican]], [[SkyHawk]], [[Mongoose]], [[Longsword]], [[Shortsword]], [[UNSC Starship]], as well as any other vehicles on [[Earth]].
The [[Interplanetary War]] in the 2160s marked a major shift in humanity's governance: after a violent conflict spanning the Solar System, the UEG was formed into a true governing body in charge of all human [[National government|nations]]. While growing overpopulation on Earth continued to pose challenges for the new government, 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/Reuse|xbox}}
|hair=Varies, but generally a brownish coloration which can appear from "black" to "blonde." Artificial pigmentation is often used to color the hair.
 
|eyes=Varies, but generally a dull color such as dark brown, and less common light brown, green, hazel, blue, and in some cases red or pink eyes due to genetic mutations. Like artificial pigmentation of the hair, since the 21st century with the advent of contact lenses. Artificial pigmentation of the eyes has become popular and possible.
This expansion was 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 establish colonies at enhanced rates.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} In the background, the progress of human civilization was being subtly manipulated for hundreds of years by the [[The Assembly]], a shadowy collective of AIs committed to humanity's survival.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Data pads]]''</ref>
|cyber=
 
|era=
===The Insurrection===
|types=
{{Main|Insurrection}}
|notable=
After over a century of prosperous expansion, humanity's populations had spread relatively thin across hundreds of worlds in a volume of space dozens of light-years across. The [[human colonies|colonies]] had become divided among the [[Inner Colonies|Inner]] and [[Outer Colonies]], the former representing the first established, stable and wealthy populations and while the latter were responsible for supplying a large portion of the resources that allowed the core worlds their high standard of living. As predicted by sociologist [[Elias Carver|Dr. Elias Carver]], a buildup of discontent among the Outer Colonial populations eventually culminated in the onset of numerous brushfire wars across the Outer Colonies which would come to be known collectively as the Insurrection. The UEG's fear of these civil conflicts escalating into a projected apocalyptic war between the Inner and Outer colonies led to the creation of the [[Project ORION|ORION]] and [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] supersoldier programs, along with extensive UNSC military campaigns across the colonies.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} These pioneering efforts would pave way for safer and more widespread human augmentation, with [[SPARTAN programs|Spartan]] supersoldiers being produced in increasingly large numbers over the following decades.{{Ref/Reuse|halo4}}
|affiliation=Numerous factions, such as the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[United Rebel Front]]
 
}}
===The Covenant War===
{{Main|Human-Covenant War}}
[[File:Covenant assault - 2.png|thumb|left|250px|A human population center under attack by the Covenant.]]
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'', p. 17</ref>
 
Humans have been able to show great bravery when facing insurmountable odds. Some of the members of the Covenant wondered why their [[Hierarchs|leadership]] 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/Level|Halo 2|[[Cairo Station]]}} In the [[Battle of Earth|ensuing battles]] over possession of Earth, humanity suffered heavy casualties.{{Ref/Reuse|halo3}}
{{Clear}}
===Post-war===
{{Main|Post-Covenant War conflicts}}
[[File:Attend2.PNG|thumb|250px|The [[Voi Memorial]], held in memory of those fallen in the war.]]
Following the [[Battle of Installation 00|final battle of the war]] on [[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]] [[Covenant military|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 homeworld, thanks chiefly to the actions of [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] and Spartan [[John-117]]. The Human-Covenant War was officially declared over on March 3, 2553, when a [[Voi Memorial|memorial service]] was held near [[Voi]], [[Kenya]], to those fallen during the 27 years of fighting.{{Ref/Reuse|halo3}}
 
In her inaugural speech in [[2553|January 2553]], [[President of the Unified Earth Government]] [[Ruth Charet]] outlined humanity's future and foreign policy, promising that they would rebuild as well as stating that humanity would now reclaim their "rightful place in the universe". While humanity was willing to coexist with other species, they would never again allow themselves to be the victims of alien aggression. While the official stance within the government and the military was to build peace with the Sangheili, the UNSC's [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] covertly worked to neutralize the Sangheili, whom they considered the most acute threat to human primacy.<ref name="glasslands">'''Halo: Glasslands'''</ref>
 
The end of the Covenant War did not spell a lasting peace for humankind and [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|new conflicts]] soon began to emerge. Various [[Covenant remnants]], most prominently the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]], initiated skirmishes against humanity in addition to renewed internecine conflict sparked by resurgent Insurrectionist movements such as the [[New Colonial Alliance]]. The UNSC fared significantly better against these significantly weaker incarnations of the Covenant, with improved assets and technology, such as the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} and the [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IVs]], at their disposal proving an advantage for the recovering UNSC.  
 
[[File:H4-ComposerFiringOnPhoenix.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The Didact's [[Mantle's Approach|flagship]] fires the [[Composer]] on [[New Phoenix]] on Earth in 2557.]]
In [[2557]], the [[Promethean]] forces reemerged led by a surviving Forerunner known as the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], who once commanded the Forerunner armies against prehistoric humanity in the Human-Forerunner War. Once awakened on [[Requiem]], the Didact allied with Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction, whilst defying the Forerunners' decision to pass down their [[Mantle]] to humanity by continuing his previous campaign of [[composer|digital genocide]]. 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. The Didact attempted to [[New Phoenix Incident|digitize humanity]] with the [[Composer]], but was defeated at the last minute by [[John-117]] and his AI [[Cortana]],{{Ref/Reuse|halo4}} though seven million human lives were [[Mind transfer|composed]].<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 7|Issue 7]] official summary''</ref>
 
On October [[2558]], humanity experienced their first major setback since the end of the war. Earth and most human colonies were taken over by the [[Created]].<ref name="H5G">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'''</ref> Crippled and weakened by the Created, humanity's fleeing [[UNSC]] lost the [[Battle over Installation 07]] against the [[Banished]], an alien mercenary organization that had recruited humans into their ranks.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW5|HDW|Chapter=5|Page=87|Quote='Some of the Banished humans defected to the UNSC,' Arcas said.}}
{{Clear}}
 
==Biology==
===Anatomy and physiology===
[[File:Halo4 Tillson skin-muscle-bone Render.jpg|250px|thumb|The skin, muscle, and skull layer of a human head.]]
Humans are mammals, and are closely related to other large apes on the planet [[Earth]]. Like all placental mammals, they are warm-blooded and give birth to live offspring, and nourish their offspring with milk. They have five fingers, one being an opposable thumb. This hand structure aided them in making tools early in their history.
 
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 [[Jiralhanae]]. 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. 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.
 
In theory at least, physical conditioning can still negate the disadvantages of human physiology somewhat, and with the right [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|enhancements]] and [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|equipment]], humans can overcome their physical disadvantages to an even further extent as demonstrated by the [[Spartan]]s. [[Human augmentation|Biological augmentation]] is not restricted to the Spartans; humans have routinely used bioengineering technologies for centuries, first to adapt to different conditions encountered in space and on other worlds, as well as a certain degree of enhancement given to military personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|enc44}} However, such enhancements do not provide as immediately conspicuous increase in physical prowess as those of the Spartans.
 
===Forerunner connections===
{{Main|Reclaimer}}
Human and [[Forerunner]] genera exhibit a number of anatomical and physical similarities, despite having evolved independently on different worlds. These genetic similarities are due to the two species both originally being seeded by the Precursors from the same base stock.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P310|Enc22|Page=310}} The Forerunners themselves were intrigued by the similarities between their own race and humanity. Because of their similarities, some Forerunner scholars theorized that humans were a kindred species, created by the Precursors in their own image, just as the Forerunners believed themselves to be.{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}
 
[[File:H3 Crows Nest Humans.jpg|250px|thumb|left|The [[Sangheili]] [[Arbiter]], [[Thel 'Vadam]], and a number of humans, including [[SPARTAN-II]] [[John-117]].]]
 
The Forerunners chose humans to become the inheritors of their technology along with Forerunners' sacred [[Mantle]], which they formerly believed to have inherited from the Precursors. The Forerunners re-encoded certain aspects of their technology (e.g. the [[activation 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 passed the torch to humanity, in hope that in the future they would defeat the Flood again, which with some help, [[John-117]] did. The [[Librarian]] imprinted the human race with a [[geas]], a pattern of information hidden deep in the genetic code and passed on throughout generations.{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}} According to the Librarian, this imprint triggered the development of many technologies which proved critical to the survival of humanity after their contact with the Covenant, as well as containing several latent abilities.{{Ref/Level|Halo 4|[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]}} This may also explain the "natural" understanding of Forerunner interfaces some humans have demonstrated despite having no prior contact with Forerunner technology.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: The Flood|Page=84}} Latent human memories and patterns extracted during the [[Conservation Measure]] were also implanted into the genetic code of future human generations.<ref>''Halo: Silentium'', p. 57</ref><ref>''Halo: Primordium'', p. 379</ref>
 
Despite this, many Forerunner AI constructs seem to regard humans as Forerunner (although some fail to do so).{{Ref/Level|Halo Wars|[[Cleansing]]}} This confusion was also the root of the Covenant's campaign to exterminate humanity. In [[2525]], 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]]). 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.''"{{Ref/Level|Halo 3|[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]}}


{{SeeWikipedia|Human}}
==Culture and society==
[[File:Commissioning-1.jpg|thumb|250px|Humans gathered in the commissioning ceremony of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.]]
Humanity remains multicultural among its still marginally independent [[national government|nations]] on both [[Earth]] and the [[human colonies|colonies]]. Although humanity has adopted [[English]] as a ''lingua franca'', [[:Category:Languages|other languages]] remain in use among human populations. Humans continue to practice a number of [[religion]]s, although apart from several exceptions faith is largely considered a personal matter.


'''Human Beings''' or '''Humans''' or '''Man''' (Latin: ''Homo sapiens'', meaning Wise Human) are a [[sentient]] species of the Genus Homo and part of the ape family. They were the first sentient species to develop advanced methods of living on their home planet of [[Earth]], fossil records date Human existence at about 200,000 years. They are rated a Tier 3 species on the Forerunner Technological Achievement system.<ref>[[Halo 3]] [[Bestiarum]]</ref> Although it is possible they may have adopted a lower Tier 2 during and after the [[Human-Covenant war]] by means of weapons research and development.
Unlike other societies, like the [[Sangheili]], males and females serve in the military in an equal capacity; showers and housing facilities are likewise shared.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 14-15'' (2001 edition)</ref><ref>'''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'''</ref> The absence of old cultural and racial hatreds within the UEG-governed humanity hearkens back to the philosophy that gave rise to it in the 22nd century, when the extremist [[Frieden]] and [[Koslovic]] ideologies threatened to consume all of humankind.<ref>[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-5-14-14 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin 5.14.14'']</ref>


==Background==
Much like the cultural changes wrought by the colonization of the Earth in the past, space colonization has its own unpredictable effects on the cultures of colonial populations. While some colony worlds are multicultural from the beginning, others receive the majority of their colonists from a given region or nation on Earth, which often makes its own mark on the development of the colony's own culture. As populations settle new worlds, cultures distort and sometimes amalgamate; however, it is common for the locals to consciously hold on to their Earth cultural heritage. This often takes the form of naming the colony world's locales after the native region or local mythology of its inhabitants. Examples of such worlds include [[Reach]], colonized by Hungarian settlers, [[Madrigal]], with its predominantly Hispanic population, or [[Harvest]], which fashioned its culture after the [[URNA|American]]-[[Scandinavia]]n ancestry of the majority of its colonists. Over time, colonial cultures tend to retain several very conspicuous traits of their roots while others are forgotten or altered; cultures essentially become "parodies" of what they used to be.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 13''</ref> Meanwhile, many of the Outer Colonies, especially those with settlers from highly varied and unregulated backgrounds,<ref name="history">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 428-429''</ref> appear as more chaotic hodgepodges of cultures with no single distinct origin culture in evidence. This has become all the more pronounced on independent worlds such as [[Venezia]] after the Human-Covenant War as former client species of the Covenant intermingle with the local human populations.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Mortal Dictata|Chapter=??}}
Throughout their existence, Humans have developed their civilization by engaging in food production on a larger scale, developing language, developing religion and political philosophies, and exhibiting telescoping technological and infrastructural development. They were studying the stars long before they were able to travel out of their atmosphere. After succeeding in space colonization, the human race was able to terraform and inhabit other planets besides Earth, but the human race is under pressure due to the discovery of the caste-driven [[Covenant]] after several centuries of space travel. The total population at the end of the war is unknown.
The ''Homo sapiens sapiens'' were believed to have appeared in Earth's fossil record between approximately 100,000 and 200,000 years ago (there was another subspecies of ''Homo sapiens'', ''Homo sapiens idaltu''; this subspecies became extinct, but was believed to have lived as long as 160,000 years previous). While the exact origin of humanity is a hotly contested paleontological debate, it is likely that the first humans evolved from a genus of upright ape-like hominids called Australopithecus (i.e. Australopithecus).
The current human race is not the only humanoid species known to live on Earth, but the ''Homo sapiens sapiens'' are believed to have either displaced or merely outlasted all other branches of the genus, including ''Homo neanderthals'' and ''Homo sapiens idaltu''. ''Homo sapiens sapiens'' 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 means they walk upright on two legs and use their arms and hands (including opposable thumbs) to hold and manipulate objects such as tools.  


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.  
===Arts and entertainment===
Urban infrastructure in many cities of the 26th century showcased a variety of architectural styles from different eras, but largely favored [[Wikipedia:brutalist architecture|brutalism]]. 24th century colonial dwellings of the early [[Domus Diaspora|Domus Diaspora]] were known to have a distinct style, described as "mostly white with blue trim"{{Ref/Novel|HLoO|Chapter=7}} and the trend of constructing buildings with similar architecture to starships began around this time, something that would come in and out of style over the years.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Venezian Sonata}}


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.  
Music has been a long tradition in human culture with historic examples such as the [[Wikipedia:Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninov]] composed [[Wikipedia:Piano Concerto No. 3 (Rachmaninoff)|Piano Concerto Number Three]],{{Ref/Novel|[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]|Chapter=1}} the [[Wikipedia:Gustav Mahler|Mahler]] composed [[Wikipedia:Symphony No. 2 (Mahler)|Symphony No. 2]],{{Ref/Novel|[[Halo: First Strike]]|Chapter=13}} and the [[Wikipedia:Claude Debussy|Debussy]] composed [[Préludes No. 4: Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir]],{{Ref/Novel|[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]|Chapter=16}} all of which [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] listened to in the 26th-century. As well, there was the music of the last act of [[Wikipedia:Der Ring des Nibelungen|Der Ring des Nibelungen]], something [[Richard Lash]] was familiar with.{{Ref/Novel|[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]|Chapter=22}} [[Gabriel Thorne]]'s grandmother was [[New Phoenix Incident|composed]] while practicing violin, her computer terminal displaying Mozart's ''Communio: Lux Aeterna'' from his [[Wikipedia: Requiem (Mozart)|Requiem Mass]] and the [[Wikipedia: Ave verum corpus (Mozart)|''Ave verum corpus'' motet]].<ref name="HE7">''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 7|Issue #7]]''</ref>


This automation gave birth to the Digital Revolution, in which computing machines allowed scientific discovery and technological development to accelerate with explosive speed. Larger urban centers and tools for civilian and military uses were able to develop, as were more modern economic and political systems. As these systems developed further, the species was able to enjoy longer, more pro-creative, and more comfortable lives, virtually impervious to other creatures from whose midst they sprang. Thus-unchecked, human population growth eventually led to the presence of several billions more humans on [[Earth]] than could be comfortably sustained, ultimately leading to a high demand for humans to expand out-world.
By the 26th-century, there was the prevalent [[flip music]] an evolution of 21st-century rock.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: First Strike|Page=55}} The [[styllight]] was a 26th-century musical instrument.{{Ref/Comic|Halo: Uprising|Issue=[[Halo: Uprising Issue 1|#1]]}}
[[Image:Earth.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Earth, home planet for Humanity.]]


== Development of Civilization ==
[[Cosmic Commedia Cooperative]] is a form of 25th-century absurdist theater.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Contact Harvest|Chapter=4}}
According to the Darwinian evolutionary theory, humans evolved from primates somewhere in East Africa, in which humans started forming Hunter-Gatherer societies during the first hundred thousands years of existence. These tribes were extremely inquisitive and were the first to engage in forms of Communication and Toolmaking (despite the fact the genus homo has been undergoing this for thousands of years before humans existed, human society was much different compared to their closer relatives). Highly mobile, they quickly spread to almost every major land formation except Antarctica, and quickly became the dominant creature on the planet. Approximately 10,000 years ago, human society began to emerge in the form of civilizations, featuring forms of farming, fishing, mining, metallurgy, and creating laws, language, and religions - often radically different depending on region - though all would share several basic fundamental aspects. The use of metallurgy for military weapons and defenses allowed these cultures to spread and conquer other lands in the name of their own, ultimately leading to the dominant rise of European nations and, in turn, to intercontinental Euro-Imperialistic colonies. Effects from the political schisms that these nations would later have with their own colonies however would have remarkable long-term ramifications for the course of mankind. Ramifications that earlier ages of humans could have never imagined, as the concept of democratic rule by Constitutional Law over the long established systems of centralized government monarchy would slowly gain momentum.


===Military culture===
The UNSC's predominance casts a distinct air of militarism over most of humanity; military service and heroism are glorified to great lengths by UNSC [[propaganda]], as well as the media. Many residents of the [[Unified Earth Government]] seem to have a particular reverence for military history, so much that when [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] was deciphering [[Babd Catha Forerunner vessel|Forerunner coordinate data]] under [[CASTLE Base]] on Reach, she compared the significance of its discovery to the invention of the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|Translight Engine]] or the conical bullet.{{Ref/Level|HR|The Package}} For orphans who become wards of the state on [[UEG]] worlds, enlisting in the UNSC is mandatory once they come of age.{{Ref/Novel|ID=HNB|Halo: New Blood|Chapter 15}} While the press evidently enjoys some degree of freedom,<ref>''[[Noble Team performance reports]]'' — Emile-A239</ref> the media is heavily regulated by [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Two|ONI's Section Two]]. The UNSC adopted its policy media control after the [[Inner Colony Wars]], when sensationalist news reports of the conflict spread mass panic and threatened to dismantle Earth's culture.<ref>''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]'', [[Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa]]</ref> This aspect of humanity strengthened with the UNSC's establishment as humanity's emergency government and the unfolding of the Human-Covenant War, and shows little signs of fading following the end of the war. These practices, combined with the UNSC's policy with the colonies, have elicited accusations of totalitarianism in elements of the population, and are often pointed out by [[Insurrectionist|colonial secessionists]] in their own propaganda.


Some elements of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]], have been a part of humanity for centuries originating back to [[1775]],{{Ref/Reuse|encyctimeline}} when the [[Wikipedia:United States Marine Corps|United States Marine Corps]] was founded.{{Ref/Reuse|encyctimeline}}<ref name="halowarsbarracks">''Halowars.com'', UNSC - Barracks ([https://web.archive.org/web/20090312142038/http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/barracks.aspx Warback Machine archive] and [[Archive:Halowars.com/UNSC#Barracks|Halopedia archive]])</ref>


== 18th-20th Century ==
==Homeworld and colonies==
The 18th through 20th centuries were times of drastic change for countries known as the "Industrial Revolution". As an unintended result of major political and economic ramifications due to the rise of constitutional governments and refined capitalist resource management techniques, important inventions such as the automobile, electrical devices like the radio, and aircraft went into widespread use at previously unheard of rates for human innovations. Revolutionary progress in humanity's understanding of medicine and chemistry was also being made during this era of turning points. Such important chemical engineering advancements included anesthesia which dramatically enhanced all surgical practices, and plastics that could cheaply fulfill an enormous amount of material roles (with the better preservation of food being one of its greatest functions). Prior to such chemical and medical advances, average humans at the beginning of this time span could expect a lifespan of approximately 45 years, but towards its end, thanks to the introduction of antibiotics and other medicines combined with better food production and preservation, the age-old scourge of widespread plague and starvation was becoming virtually a thing of the past, and enabling people to live well beyond 80 and even into 100 years of age.  
[[File:H4 Skyline.png|thumb|250px|The [[city]] of [[Mindoro]] on the human colony of [[Cascade]].]]
{{Main|Earth|human colonies}}
Having possessed [[slipspace]] travel for over two centuries, humanity's sphere of influence has expanded to cover a sizable region of space surrounding their [[Sol system|home system]]. These colonies are roughly divided amongst the [[Inner Colonies]] and [[Outer Colonies]]; the former consisting of the 210 worlds colonized between [[2362]] and [[2390]], and the Outer Colonies encompassing all colonies established afterward. At its height, around the [[2490]]'s, human space encompassed 800 worlds, ranging from thriving hubs of commerce and military to various lesser worlds which mostly existed to provide the core worlds with resources and foodstuffs, as well as yet smaller outposts and settlements. A significant number of these worlds were [[glassing|glassed]] by the Covenant over the course of the Human-Covenant War.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}


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 2 massive [[World War II|wars]] within the first 40 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 Bomb|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.
While all colonies are formally represented equally within the [[Unified Earth Government]], the true power is often perceived to rest on the Inner Colonies and Earth. This has led to widespread separatism and even [[Insurrection|civil war]], and many Outer Colonies have declared themselves independent from the UEG over the decades. Because many of the colonies are invaluable to the core worlds due to the resources they produce, the UEG has historically sought to maintain its control over them by any means necessary, including military intervention, which in turn provoked the colonial insurgents all the more.{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}


In the next 60 years the superpower nations of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (succeeded by the Commonwealth of Independent States) became highly competitive, leading to a period of military and cultural tension known as the "Cold War"; an arms race by which the lethality of humanity's relatively new warfare technologies would be further refined upon in their destructive potential and precision, complimented with ever evolving battlefield doctrines and tactics as both nations sought to intimidate the other, with the newly developed nuclear weapons playing a large part in this period. In the 1950s, the Soviet Union launched the earliest satellite and sent the first human into space, officially making humans space faring. The United States successfully launched the first human to the moon, and eventually surpassed the Soviet Union's space faring and military production capabilities, leaving their doctrines as the ones that would heavily influence the [[UNSC]] in later centuries.
===Population===
In October 2552, Cortana said that humanity suffered 23 billion casualties throughout the course of the Human-Covenant War, making it the minimal amount of humans alive before the war.<ref name="palace">''[[Halo Evolutions]]'', "[[Palace Hotel]]", p. 351</ref>


Additionally, with the creation of computers and the Internet in the late 20th century, achievements from that era would dramatically revolutionized 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 influence ideological dogma had upon a society, with scientific and logical explanations for phenomena and methodology rising in importance, although religion would remain a staple of human societies. 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.
Earth was deemed overpopulated in the 22nd century, jump-starting the colonization programs at the time.<ref name="P42">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 42''</ref> Despite the colonization efforts made to resolve the overpopulation issue, Earth's population still remained in the billions.<ref name="P282A">'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 282'' (''"Billions still live there despite the ongoing colonization of the stars."'')</ref> The population of Earth prior to the [[Battle of Earth]] was at an approximate 10 billion: the population was said to have been cut in half at the start of the Covenant attack.{{Ref/Reuse|bestiarum}}<ref name="P282B">'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 282'' (''"... the entire population of Earth was cut in half as the First Battle of Earth began."'')</ref> By the end of the battle, the population count was reduced to 200 million; this was both due to casualties inflicted by the Covenant as well as a massive off-planet evacuation effort.<ref name="prewarpop">[https://twitter.com/Mr_Admirals/status/429062324737953792 '''Twitter''': ''@HaloWaypoint Hey, what was the population of Earth prior to November 2552?'']</ref><ref name="postwarpop">[https://twitter.com/EasyToAdjust/status/424004810874970113 '''Twitter''': ''@HaloWaypoint Just picked up the Essential Visual Guide. Is the post war population of 200,000,000 on Earth still canon?'']</ref> Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, the population of Earth increased dramatically due to the influx of returning evacuees and refugees from other worlds, being again in the billions by the end of the year 2553.{{Ref/Reuse|prewarpop}}


==Colonization and War==  
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 50%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|Planet
!scope="col"|Population
!scope="col"|Approximate
!scope="col"|Circa
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Sol system]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Earth]]
|10,000,000,000
|Yes
|[[2552#October|Pre-Oct. 2552]]<ref name="ENC">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', page 282</ref><ref name="populateTwit">[https://twitter.com/Mr_Admirals/status/429062324737953792 ''Twitter'': @HaloWaypoint Hey, what was the population of Earth prior to November 2552?]</ref>
|-
|200,000,000
|Yes
|[[2552#November|Nov. 2552]]<ref name="VIS">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', page 54</ref><ref name="BEST">''[[Bestiarum|Halo 3 Bestiarum]]''</ref>
|-
|7,900,000,000
|Yes
|Post-war<ref name="Halo: Warfleet, p. 22">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 22</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Inner Colonies]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Reach]]
|703,341,500
|No
|2535{{Ref/Reuse|halo.bungie.net}}
|-
|121,000
|Yes
|2558<ref name="wf">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 23</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Outer Colonies]]
|[[Bliss]]
|500,000,000
|Yes
|[[2526#February|Feb. 2526]]<ref>''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', [[:File:Intersystem News Bliss.jpg|BLISS DECIMATED!]]</ref>
|-
|[[Etalan]]
|10,000,000
|Yes
|[[2526#March|Mar. 2526]]<ref>''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', p. 74</ref>
|-
|[[Arcadia]]
|2,998,230
|No
|Pre-[[2531]]<ref>''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 12</ref>
|-
|[[Eridanus II]]
|510,000
|Yes
|Post-war{{Ref/Reuse|Halo: Warfleet, p. 22}}
|-
|[[Harvest]]
|3,000,000{{Ref/Note|According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', ''Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp'', and ''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', Harvest had a population of approximately three million. However, ''Halo: Contact Harvest'' consistently states that Harvest had a population of around 300,000, and that roughly 250,000 civilians, who constituted most of the planet's population, escaped before the planet was glassed.}}
|Yes
|[[2525]]
|-
|rowspan="9"|Unknown
|[[Ariel]]
|4000
|Yes
|[[2552#January|Jan. 2552]]<ref>''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'', [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 1|Issue 1]]</ref>
|-
|[[Alluvion]]
|336,000,000+
|Yes
|[[2542|Pre-2542]]<ref name="h2a3">''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 3]]</ref>
|-
|[[Bounty]]
|199,000,000+
|Yes
|Pre-Aug. 2552{{Ref/Reuse|h2a3}}
|-
|[[Mesa]]
|219,000,000+
|Yes
|Pre-Aug. 2552{{Ref/Reuse|h2a3}}
|-
|[[Greydowns]]
|76,830,400
|Yes
|Pre-Aug. 2552{{Ref/Reuse|h2a3}}
|-
|[[Kroedis II]]
|15,000,000+
|Yes
|Pre-Aug. 2552{{Ref/Reuse|h2a3}}
|-
|[[Estuary]]
|89,000,000+
|Yes
|Pre-Aug. 2552{{Ref/Reuse|h2a3}}
|-
|[[Camber]]
|5,600,000
|Yes
|Pre-Aug. 2552{{Ref/Reuse|h2a3}}
|-
|[[Sigma Octanus IV]]
|17,000,000
|Yes
|July 2552<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', p. 144</ref>
|}
==Technology==
[[File:H5G-Governor Sloan.png|thumb|200px|A [[hologram]] of the AI [[Sloan]], under the ship ''[[Meridian 5-Alpha]]''.]]
Prior to the [[human-Forerunner wars]], humanity had [[Prehistoric human civilization|achieved]] a remarkably advanced technological state, having developed interstellar travel, colonized thousands of worlds outside of their solar system,{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Primordium|Page=129}} and even having an understanding of [[Precursor]] technology. However, nearly 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/Reuse|cryptum}} Unfortunately, this technological and cultural development proved to be in vain: during a phase after the [[Conservation Measure]]'s [[reintroduction]] stage, aptly termed as the [[dark time]],{{Ref/Reuse|bestiarum}} the species regressed back into hunter-gatherers for over 90,000 years until the development of the modern human civilizations first began.


[[Image:H3 Zune Marine.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A [[UNSC]] [[Marine]].]]
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/Novel|Halo: The Flood|Page=132}}
{{main|United Nations Space Command}}
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.


[[File:HINF Concept Tools.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Concept art of various human tools.]]
By the 26th century, human technology has not advanced equally for every concept previously explored. The most basic technologies (such as the ballistic weaponry and the wheel) have 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. However, certain significant advancements have been made in other fields, such as [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]s that allow ships to reach other star systems, as well as the creation of highly sophisticated [[Artificial intelligence|AI]]s that can serve to fulfill a versatile amount of roles. In addition, humans have also developed various forms of [[nanotechnology]] which allows many advances impossible with conventional engineering. Other common construction materials include [[polycrete]], [[permacrete]] and [[instacrete]].


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.  
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/Reuse|halo4}}{{Ref/Reuse|glasslands}} Thanks to technology received from the Swords of Sanghelios and Kig-Yar merchants researchers were able to leapfrog centuries of trial-and-error experimentation and theory building.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-armory-amore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Armory Amore}}


===AI, robotics and automation===
Human AI constructs can be grouped into two main categories; [[Dumb AI|"dumb"]] and [[Smart AI|"smart"]] AIs. These labels are technically misleading, as both types are extremely intelligent, but dumb AIs are only capable of learning about subjects within their designated area of expertise, whereas smart AIs exhibit much more human-like characteristics, such as emotions, creativity and intuition. Smart AIs can only be created by scanning a human brain and replicating the neural pattern to a digital storage system known as a [[Riemann matrix]]. However, after seven years of operation, the AI will descend to a terminal condition known as [[rampancy]]. Various solutions have been attempted to counter this issue, but none are known to have been effectively implemented.<ref name="journal">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]</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, and were forced into the war covered by the [[Halo]] series. 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.Humans could hold out on ground combat and often defeat [[The Covenant]],but the Covenant often fled to space and [[Glassing|Glassed]] the Planet.  
Although the UNSC still relies heavily on human combatants, [[:Category:UNSC drones|robotic drones]] are used in combat to a certain extent, often providing fire support or [[UNSC battle network|real-time reconnaissance]] on the battlefield. Examples of UNSC drones include the [[F-99 Wombat]], the [[MAKO drone|MAKO]] and [[ARGUS drone]]s.<ref name="Halo page 16">''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 16</ref>


In civilian society, automated systems—sometimes controlled by the subprocesses of a larger AI—have found uses in [[roadware|piloting civilian vehicles]] as well as performing most manual labor in [[JOTUN Heavy Industries|agriculture]] and industry.<ref>''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'', p. 42 (2011)</ref> The scale of AI-driven automation ranges from single cities to entire worlds; the former sometimes operated by a "dumb" AI such as the [[Superintendent]] while "smart" AI [[Mack]]'s oversight of [[Harvest]]'s agricultural operations is an example of the latter.


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. However, despite great courage and brilliance, the future seemed dark for the survival of the human race as the [[Covenant]] continued to wipe out their colonies, marching ever closer to Earth. On October 20th 2552, Earth was found. In the ensuing battles over possession of Earth, Covenant plasma bombardment slaughtered millions of humans .  
===Medical advances and biotechnology===
[[File:BirthOfASpartan - Augmentation.png|thumb|250px|Medical augmentations of [[Carter-A259]] as part of [[Project CHRYSANTHEMUM]].]]
Humanity has mastered a number of medical technologies, improving the quality of life in general but also providing many military applications. Among the most prominent is [[flash cloning]], which allows the re-growth of almost any body part and is often used to replace damaged or lost organs.<ref>''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe'', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", page 461</ref> Lost limbs may also be replaced with advanced [[artificial limb|mechanical prosthetics]].{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Contact Harvest|Page=81}} Humans have been effectively immunized against some conventional diseases, including [[cancer]]. Though isolated cases of cancer still occur, they can be easily treated.<ref name="midlothian">''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe'',"[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]"</ref> Medical science has resolved most issues with eyesight, although some people choose to wear glasses for a variety of reasons, among them the ability to use them to project a [[heads-up display]].<ref>[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-4-16-14 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 4.16.14'']</ref>


On long slipspace voyages, humans use [[cryo chamber]]s, allowing the occupant to enter [[cryonics|cryonic suspension]] which effectively stops biological aging for the duration of the journey. These and many more advances have continued to push human longevity beyond prior estimates; with flash-cloned organ transplants, coupled with time spent in cryosleep, one's biological age may be decades less than their chronological one.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''',''"The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"'', ''pages 485-486''</ref>


March 3rd, 2553,<ref>http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/106934.html</ref> saw the end of the Human-Covenant War as a victory<ref>[[Believe]], [[Museum]]</ref> for humanity and their new found [[Sangheili]] allies - the majority of the [[Covenant Loyalist]] military having been defeated at [[Delta Halo]] by the [[Sangheilian Fleet]], and the rest annihilated by the joint Elite-UNSC forces at the [[Ark]]. This victory came in time to save the human home world, thanks chiefly to the actions of the [[Thel 'Vadamee|Arbiter]] and Spartan [[John-117]].
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/Novel|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|Page=97}} 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]].


== Technology ==
Humans have also adopted a variety of [[Human augmentation|bioengineering and augmentation]] technologies. Human enhancements saw military application in the [[Interplanetary War|first interplanetary conflicts]].<ref name="enc44">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 44''</ref> While human enhancement has been commonplace for centuries, more extensive augmentation or experimentation has been limited due to ethical concerns. An exception to this are the biochemical and cybernetic augmentations used in the [[SPARTAN programs]], which 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.{{Ref/Reuse|midlothian}}
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 [[Engineers]], whilst generally having no understanding of the underlying concepts themselves. Thus it it is said that the Covenant are "imitative" while the Humans are "innovative" as the war progresses.


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 [[AI]]s that could serve to fulfill a versatile amount of roles.
UNSC personnel are equipped with [[neural interface|neural implants]], more sophisticated [[Command neural interface|models]] of which—typically issued to ship captains—enable a human mind to interface with computer systems and receive or send information. The [[neural marker]] is an interviewing device which can record an individual's thoughts and visualize them on a monitor.<ref>[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]</ref> [[Cognitive Impression Modeling]] allows the translation of a human brain's neural framework into digital form for the purpose of creating AIs, although this is not true [[mind transfer]] in the manner of that employed by the Forerunners: the resulting intelligence is not a perfect copy of the person it was created from due to the chaotic process in which the AI is brought into being.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}


*'''[[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 pulses. Still, there have been some advanced developments, such as the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]], which is extensively used on ships as well as on vehicles and ground based weapons. A similar weapon, the rail-gun, was experimented with in the 20th century. There have been developments in energy weapons such as the [[Spartan Laser]] and the experimental pulse lasers used on [[UNSC Prowler]]. Although some of these breakthroughs could have been because 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 fusion can be used as a weapon to cause a large explosion, with such warheads seen in many missile installations and UNSC warships during naval battles. Innovation in this area would also converge in the creation of humanities most devastating weapon during the war effort, known as the [[NOVA Bomb]].
===Space-faring===
{{Main|Human starship}}
[[File:H2A Terminals - Camber holograph.jpg|250px|thumb|Different types of UNSC starships in orbit of [[Camber]].]]
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 in the latter half of the 21st century. With the advent of [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]s allowing faster-than-light travel, the UNSC was able to expand well beyond the confines of the [[Sol system|Solar System]], colonizing hundreds of worlds. UNSC [[freighter]]s transport food and goods between colonies, while UNSC Navy warships protect trade routes from [[Piracy|pirates]] and defend colonies from enemy assault. [[Space elevator]]s are used on many worlds to provide orbital transport. Advanced [[terraforming]] and climate control techniques have been developed, making human habitation possible even in many formerly hostile environments.


*'''[[Vehicle]]s:''' 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. [[Scorpion]]s) 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 it's high rate of fire compared to today's tanks, and advanced ammunition.
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/Novel|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Page=17}} Rocket thrusters using [[triamino hydrazine]] as propellant are used for attitude control and small-scale maneuvering.<ref name="Halo page 25">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 25''</ref> In addition to visual stealth systems, [[UNSC prowler]]s are able to use "engine baffles" to completely mask their emission profiles to match the surrounding space while running with reduced engine power.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|Page=43}}


*'''Air Vehicles:''' Most UNSC aircraft are designed with Vertical-Takeoff-Vertical-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.
Humanity also 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. There is also 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 (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 211''</ref> Some [[UNSC starship|UNSC ships]], such as {{Class|Phoenix|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/Level|[[Halo 3]]|[[The Storm]]}} Not all ships are equipped for atmospheric operation, however.{{Ref/Novel|[[Halo: The Flood]]|Page=40}} Anti-gravity is not typically implemented on craft smaller than warships and conventional engine systems are used to produce lift instead.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|Page=135}}


*'''Medical Advances:''' The use of [[Sterile Field Generators]] 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.
While the weapons and combat abilities of human spacecraft were still very limited by the time of the Human-Covenant War, the reverse-engineering of Covenant and Forerunner technologies has subsequently granted humanity multiple advances in these technologies.{{Ref/Reuse|glasslands}}


*'''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 [[Solar System]], colonizing a number of worlds. UNSC freighters transport food and goods between colonies, while UNSC Navy warships protect trade routes from pirates and defend colonies from [[Covenant|enemy]] assault.
===Weapons===
[[File:HaloArmsRace3.JPG|250px|thumb|Numerous [[M6 series]] pistols.]]
While still primarily based on projectiles and chemical reactions, human weapons are 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 many advanced developments, such as electromagnetic accelerator weapons. The most prominent of these is the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]], used as the main armament on UNSC warships, and in smaller form in ground-based weapons. Another electromagnetic weapon system, known as the [[Railgun (fiction)|railgun]], is used to a lesser degree. There have been developments in [[Directed energy weapon|energy weapons]] such as the [[Spartan Laser]] and the [[XEV9-Matos nonlinear pulse cannon|pulse lasers]] used on [[UNSC prowler]]s. Advances in technology allow the development of highly efficient explosive devices, including the [[Lancet micro-missile]]s, capable of decimating main battle tanks.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo page 16}}


==  Population ==
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]].
{{Conjecturalization}}
[[Image:World-Population.png|thumb|right|The estimated human population (rough).]]
[[Image:Stage5.jpg#file|thumb|right|Difficult to factor demographic shifts.]]
It is known that in the 22nd century, [[Earth]] was deemed overpopulated, jump-starting the colonization programs of the time. After twenty seven years of war with the genocidal Covenant, the human race was brought to the brink of extinction, reduced to approximately two thirds. At the beginning of the Human-Covenant War, the population would be estimated at around&nbsp;120 billion.  


=== Explanation ===
===Vehicles===
[[File:HW2 MarineDeployment Concept.png|thumb|250px|UNSC personnel in a number of vehicles including aircraft and ground vehicles.]]
Human land vehicles rely on wheeled, continuous track motion, or legs for locomotion. 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|Some]] use [[hydrogen]]-fuel cell engines.


[[2525]] - 1999 = 526 years. The population in 1999 was 6 billion. The population has risen at a rate of roughly 99 million people per year and this may increase over time given complex economic circumstances in evaluating birth rates versus death tolls. Given that the current estimated rate more or less holds however; 526 × 99 million (1.67% each year) + 6 billion = 58.074 billion humans on Earth and elsewhere throughout UNSC space by the time of the events of the Human-Covenant War (provided that progress in medical understanding has further extended average life expectancy however, the final population total is likely to be higher). Note that this is only a rough estimation, and does not take into account potential [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography#The_demographic_transition demographic shifts] (in which nations show a tendency to harbor significantly reduced birth rates after they become fully developed in exchange for living longer), nor does it take into consideration the death toll on account of wars between circa. 2000 and the 26th century. Given the fact that most of the UNSC's colonies have only been colonized comparatively recently, with many having populations only in the hundreds of thousands (ie; Harvest) or tens of millions (ie; Sigma Octanus IV), it can be reasonably assumed that the earliest established colonies are the only ones to possess populations that rival Earth, and that Earth remains the most heavily populated planet.
Humans use [[Human marine craft|marine craft]] on some planets.


There exists another considerable fallacy with this method of estimation; typically human population growth is not linear but exponential (i.e. the amount of growth per year increases each year). The current estimated world population growth is 1.17% per year. Once again, potential [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_transition demographic transitions] of each individual population can scarcely be factored. However, based on the fact that in 1999 the population was 6,000,000,000, then were it to increase by 1.17% per year for 526 years, we can be predict the population of 2525 to be at around 272,503,288,26, or 272.5 billion. In terms of population density, if humanity has colonized about 800 planets, that's about an average of 340 million people for each planet.  
Most human 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.


{{Conjecturalization End}}
===Communications===
By the end of the Covenant War, humanity had developed [[superluminal communications]] systems enabling instantaneous communication and data transfer across interstellar distances.<ref>''[[Data Drop]]''</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/Novel|Halo: Contact Harvest|Page=35}} 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/Reuse|Halo page 25}} The various human communication systems are commonly shortened to "[[COM]]".{{Ref/Reuse|goo50}}
{{Clear}}


== Anatomy and Physiology ==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H5G-Spoopyhumans.png|Human skeletons in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' [[Forge]].
File:HW2-Navydudes.png|Various humans in ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:Enc22 MakingCamp.jpg|Human Marines around a camp fire on Installation 07 in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.
</gallery>


Humans are mammals, and closely related to other dominant apes on the planet [[Earth]], meaning that they are warm blooded and give birth to live offspring, and nourish their offspring with milk. They have five fingers, one including an opposable thumb, which a few covenant species do not have and was a major part in helping humans dominate on earth. Unlike [[Elites]], their circulatory system is closed and consists of one heart, and a network of blood vessels and red blood due to the iron based hemoglobin of humans, 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]]. Their eyes have more pinpointed pupils, and additionally have 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, in great quantities. Their bone structure is much different than a few covenant species. They have a large calcium deposit, as well as a more developed bone structure for protecting organs, allowing them to be a perfect target for [[The Flood]]. Muscle-wise, they are leaner and posses less muscle matter, as majority of covenant species have the ability to pick up humans. 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 [http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/SPARTAN-II_Augmentation_Procedures enhancements] and [http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/MJOLNIR_Powered_Assault_Armor equipment], overcome their physical disadvantages to an even further extent as demonstrated by the [[SPARTANs]].
==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
**''[[Halo: The Flood#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
**''[[Halo: First Strike#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]''
**''[[Petra]]''
**''[[Tug o' War]]''
*''[[i love bees]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
**''[[Conversations from the Universe]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[Armor Testing]]''
**''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''
**''[[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|Page 122]]''
**''[[Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Starry Night]]''
*''[[Iris]]''
**''[[Halo 3: The Cradle of Life]]''
*''[[Believe]]''
**''[[Believe: The John 117 Monument]]''
**''[[Diorama]]''
**''[[Enemy Weapon]]''
**''[[Gravesite]]''
**''[[Hunted]]''
**''[[Museum]]''
*''[[Halo: Landfall]]''
**''[[Halo: Arms Race]]''
**''[[Halo: Combat]]''
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
**''[[Bestiarum]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[The Life]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
**''[[Sadie's Story]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Prototype]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
**''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''
**''[[Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Pariah]]''
**''[[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]''
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
{{Col-3}}
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Birth of a Spartan]]''
**''[[Patrol]]''
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
**''[[Data pads]]'' {{Im}}
**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
*''[[Halo Living Monument]]
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[The Commissioning]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Scanned]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
**''[[Infinity Briefing Packet]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Rebirth]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Nightfall]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
**''[[All Hail]]''
**''[[The Cost]]''
**''[[Hunt the Signal]]''
**''[[A Hero Falls]]''
**''[[The Hunt Begins]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: Saint's Testimony]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Know Your Enemy]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Lessons Learned]]''
**''[[What Remains]]''
**''[[Breaking Strain]]''
**''[[Promises to Keep]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Ballad of Hamish Beamish]]''
**''[[A Necessary Truth]]''
**''[[Into the Fire]]''
**''[[Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World]]''
**''[[Oasis]]''
**''[[Anarosa]]''
{{Col-3}}
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Something Has Happened]]''
**''[[Fireteam Majestic Poker Night]]''
**''[[On the Brink]]''
**''[[Undefeated]]''
**''[[Knight Takes Bishop]]''
**''[[Dominion Splinter]]'' {{C|Flashback only}}
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo: Recruit]]'' {{C|Non-canonical appearance}}
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Battle Born]]''
*''[[Halo: Lone Wolf]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Meridian Divide]]''
*''[[Step Inside]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
**''[[Sacrifice]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Vertical Umbrage]]''
*''[[Halo: Winter Contention]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]''
*''[[Halo: Sunrise on Sanghelios]]
*''[[Halo: Saturn Devouring His Son]]''
*''[[Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon]]''
*''[[Halo: Trial of Reckoning]]
*''[[Halo: Hippocratica]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireside]]''
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
*''[[Halo: The Third Life]]''
*''[[Halo: Anvil Accord]]''
*''[[Halo: The Machine Breaks]]''
*''[[Halo: Age of Retribution]]'' {{mo}}
*''[[Halo: Flashpoint]]''
*''[[Halo: Empty Throne]]''
{{Col-end}}


==Connections Between the [[Forerunners]] and Humans==
==Notes==
{{Main|Reclaimer}}
{{Ref/Notes}}
*A common theory among the Halo community is that the Forerunners are the ancient ancestors of the Human species. Examples of possible descent include the fact that only humans can take the the Index from its resting place in the [[Library]], as well as comments made by [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] during the Halo Trilogy. In the 3 games, the [[Monitor]] conveys confusion about the ignorance the humans have regarding the [[Halo array]] . ''[[Halo 3]]'' seems to give the most evidence for the theory of humans being [[Forerunner]] descendants. 343 Guilty Spark tells the Master Chief: ''"You are the child of my [[Forerunner|makers]]. Inheritor of all they left behind. You are [[Forerunner]]!"''
*The [[High Prophet of Truth]] also tells [[Sergeant Major]] [[Johnson]]: "''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.''"
*However, the web comic that included the character [[N'chala]] makes this theory less likely. It seemingly disproved the theory with the combination of the [[Episode 5|Server 05]] message from the [[Iris]] viral campaign and the [[Terminals]] of ''Halo 3'' explaining that the [[Forerunners]] discovered humanity on a planet in a "perilous location beyond the line" (possibly meaning that Earth was outside of the [[Forerunners]]' protection). The [[Librarian]] built a [[portal]] to the [[Ark]] before [[Didact]] fired the array, ensuring humanity's survival of the Halos and the [[Flood]]. As shown with the [[Bestiarum]] the Forerunners worked to categorize species that they found. Humanity then, was not created by the Forerunner.
*Another theory (one supported by the ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[Terminals]]) is that the humans became the inheritors of the [[Forerunner]] empire and technology because the Forerunners passed the Mantle of Guardianship down to humanity, as it was passed to them, presumably from the [[Precursors]].
*Another similarity is on the level [[Sacred Icon (Level)|Sacred Icon]], when you deactivate the plug locks then a holographic hand comes up and it looks just like a human hand. This implies Forerunner technology was intended for Human usage, or is at least compatible with human anatomy.
*During the events in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', Covenant religious vehicles traveled the edge of Covenant-controlled space and discovered a planet that was covered with Forerunner "Reclamation" glyphs, who were actually the humans. A [[Brute Chieftain]] known as [[Maccabeus]] (uncle of [[Tartarus]]) landed on the planet ([[Harvest]]) and was, at first, passive towards the humans. He claimed the planet in the name of the Covenant due to the presence of a large number of Forerunner relics (which in fact were Humans') and an Oracle. It wasn't until a shot rang out did things turn bloody. Later, a report of the planet's glyphs was sent to the Vice Minister of Tranquility ([[High Prophet of Regret|Regret]]). He took the information to the Minister of Fortitude (Truth) and they went to see the [[Oracle]] (the Forerunner [[AI]] in the [[Forerunner Dreadnought|Dreadnought]]). Upon activation of the [[Mendicant Bias|Oracle]], the AI exclaimed, "''FOR EONS I HAVE WATCHED. LISTENED TO YOU MISINTERPRET. THIS IS NOT RECLAMATION. THIS IS RECLAIMER.''" After those words, the glyphs in the report were shown and they began to transform shape until a crude image of a human appeared. The Oracle adds, "''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 THE [[Installation 00|ARK]].''" After that, the power conduits aboard the Dreadnought short circuit as several frying, dead Lekgolo worms fall out of the spaces. The [[Dreadnought]] powers down. Truth, believing that the humans were actually Forerunner (rather than being related), believed this information could destroy the foundation of the [[Covenant]] and, with it, his power. Upon being promoted (through blackmail) to High Prophet, he used his power to set out a massive religious genocide against the humans.<ref>''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', page 274-276</ref>
*''"Child of my enemy, why have you come? I offer no forgiveness; for the father's sins pass to his son.''" -The [[Gravemind]] speaking to the Master Chief, acknowledging a relationship between Humanity and the Forerunners.


== Sources ==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources|2}}
{{Navbox/Species}}


{{Humanwars}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Host Species]]
[[Category:Mammals]]
[[Category:Living Organisms]]
[[Category:Human]]
[[Category:Human]]
[[Category:Sapient species]]
[[Category:Host species]]

Latest revision as of 12:14, November 8, 2024

Wikipedia.png
There is more information available on this subject at Human on the English Wikipedia.
Human
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Biological overview

Latin name:

Homo sapiens[1]

Classification:

Mammal

Diet:

Omnivorous

Physical information

Avg. height:

152.4–182.9 cm (5–6 ft)[1]

Avg. weight:

61.2–90.7 kg (135–200 lb)[1]

Avg. lifespan:

80–90 years[1]

Sociocultural information

Homeworld:

Earth[1]

Technology level:

Tier 3[1][2]

Notable individuals:

John-117, Catherine Halsey, Preston Cole, Terrence Hood, Forthencho, Robert Watts

Also known as:

Languages:

 
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This article is part of a series on
Humanity


Technology

History

Culture, Politics & Economy

Biology

To check out information for other sapient species, see here!
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Humans, taxonomically referred to as Homo sapiens (Latin for "wise man") and known as hamanune (plural hamanush) in the Forerunner era,[3] are a sentient species native to Earth. A part of the primate family, they are the only extant species of a formerly diverse genus of multiple species once classified as human. 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.

Over 110,000 years ago, ancient humanity (archeohomina) had achieved a thriving interstellar civilization nearly on par with the Forerunners, although their catastrophic defeat in the human-Forerunner wars would see them reduced to a preindustrial state as hunter-gatherer tribes, forced to achieve technological sophistication again.[4] Thanks to the efforts of the Forerunner known as the Librarian, however, humans were later elevated to the role of Reclaimers, 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 latter half of the 21st century. Following a series of violent conflicts across the Sol system, contemporary 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 spread across the neighbouring stars.[5]

At the end of the 25th century, this age of flourish was coming to an end, and the rising economic and political tensions across the colonies eventually culminated in a series of civil conflicts collectively known as the Insurrection. The war claimed millions of lives over the next three decades, but a far more dire threat loomed. In 2525, a theocratic alien hegemony known as the Covenant invaded the colony world of Harvest, beginning the apocalyptic Human-Covenant War.[5] For nearly three decades, humanity, under the emergency military governance of the United Nations Space Command, was pushed back by the relentless Covenant war machine, until the tide turned in 2552. With humanity teetering on the brink of extinction, the discovery of a Forerunner artifact known as Halo set in motion a course of events which would lead to the fragmentation and eventual destruction of the Covenant.[6]

Following the end of the war, humanity began to take on a more active role in the galactic community formed by the Covenant's dissolution, with new technological developments sped up by the discovery of Forerunner relics. However, these developments have not yet elevated them to the Tier 2 of technological advancement held by the Covenant.[1] Despite the defeat of the Covenant, humanity engaged in smaller conflicts during the post-war years. In addition to threats from within in the form of renewed dissidence across the colonies, the UNSC was involved in hostilities with new Covenant factions, some of which allowed humans to join, and other hostilites with the Ur-Didact's reawakened Forerunner Promethean constructs which would later come under the command of the Created.[7]

History

Prehistory

A high-resolution view of Earth, seen in the Halo 2 theatrical trailer.
Earth, home planet for humanity.

The origins of humanity lay in the ancient race of beings known as the Precursors. Responsible for seeding the galaxy with life, the Precursors genetically engineered early humanity millions of years ago along with many other species in the galaxy, including Forerunners, a would-be rival species to humanity.[8] The Precursors achieved this by creating the two species from the same base stock, splitting a species they created apart so that they would evolve separately.[9] The Precursors intended humanity to inherit the Mantle, their assumed role of guardianship for all life in the galaxy and for countless generations prepared them for this role.[10] The Forerunners refused to accept this decision and subsequently rebelled against the Precursors. After exterminating the Precursors to the point of extinction, the Forerunners claimed the Mantle for themselves, using it not only as the basis of their society but also as justification for securing their own dominance for millions of years.[11]

Early civilization and Forerunner involvement

Main articles: Prehistoric human civilization, Erde-Tyrene civilization

Humanity achieved an advanced state early in its history, well over 1,100,000 BCE,[12] when their earliest, long-forgotten cultures attained space travel and spread across many worlds. The latest of these early civilizations, having risen to power around 150,000 BCE after a series of technological dark ages,[13] eventually reached a level of technological sophistication close to that of the Forerunners. Humans of this era were on average larger and superior to modern humans in many respects, including intelligence and physical strength.[1] Humanity resented Forerunner dominion over the galaxy, and as a result expanded their civilization outward along the Orion Arm and across the galactic margin, away from the Forerunners' sphere of influence. This civilization formed an alliance with the San'Shyuum and later warred against the nascent Flood. While humanity lost a third of their population, the Flood was eventually driven out of the galaxy. However, the conflict led to 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 scattered remnants of their species were exiled to their homeworld, genetically "devolved" to more primitive forms and reduced to a pre-technological state from which they would be forced to start again.[4]

Ancient humans observing the construction of the Portal at Voi.[14]

Humanity was one of many species indexed by the Librarian and preserved during the Conservation Measure. Viewing humanity as special, the Librarian imposed a geas upon the species, which has been said to have greatly affected their development; in particular preparing humans for their role as successors to the Forerunners as stewards of the galaxy.[15] Although the bulk of the indexed human population - as well as many of the formerly diverse human species - were lost when the Ur-Didact used the Composer on the inhabitants of Omega Halo, the Librarian and her successor, Chant-to-Green, managed to save enough specimens to successfully revitalize Homo sapiens and several other species.[11] Following the firing of the Halo Array, the surviving humans were returned to Earth,[3] being the first species the Forerunners reintroduced.[16]

Early post-Great Purification recovery

Early post-Great Purification human warriors.

Circa 97,445 BCE, humans were returned to Earth and watched as the Portal at Voi was buried. N'chala, one of the ancient humans, left an Out-of-place handprint.[17] Societies began developing from then on. One of the earliest known societies founded was around the 5th Millennium BCE, when Egypt was formed.[18]

In this early recovery, these societies began fighting each other; the histories and tales of which would be passed down hundreds if not thousands of years. Examples include 300 soldiers from Sparta defended Greece at Thermopylae in 480 BCE[19] and Marcus Agrippa saving Rome at the Battle of Actium.[20]

Another specific example is during the Second Punic War at the Battle of Cannae. In this battle, the Roman Republic fought Hannibal. Hannibal employed the pincer maneuver by ordering a tactical retreat of his forces and using horse riders to flank the Romans.[21]

Other battles include the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.[22] In the 1400s, the Hundred Years War took place.[23] In 1597, Admiral Yi Sun-sin defeated a Japanese fleet of 133 vessels with only 13 ships of his own at Myeongnyang Strait.[20]

On August 24, 1456, the Gutenberg Bible is printed.[24]

Later recovery

In the 18th-century, humanity developed the conical bullet[25][Note 1] and discovered the piezoelectric effect.[26]

Over the course of the 18th and 19th-centuries, the colonies of Britain diverged socially and economically resulting in a schism. In one case, a war.[27] During the War of 1812, Oliver Hazard Perry won control of Lake Erie.[20] The "first" American Civil War took place[28] and was the first time a team of photographers took images of war.[29]

As well in the early 1900s, the Ottoman Empire had uniformed field soldiers; the look and accent of which was emulated by the AI Turkish.[30] World War I saw the first uses of flamethrowers.[31] In 1918, during Operation Michael, Oskar von Hutier used shock penetration strategy.[20]

World War II came to a close with the first usage of human Nuclear weapons at Nagasaki and Hiroshima.[32]

Important historical figures and other elements

Several historical figures included Charles Darwin,[33] Chester W. Nimitz, Themistocles, Lysander,[20] Jimmy Doolittle, Lilya Litvyak,[34] Cleopatra, Genghis Khan,[35] and Roland with his sword Durendal.[36] A notable historical military unit were the Cossacks.[37]

Formation of the UN and deepening ties

Early human steps on Luna.[38]

In 1945, the United Nations was founded.[32] 16 years later, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin would be the first human being to orbit the Earth.[39] Eight years after that, human beings would take their first steps on Luna.[32] During the Cold War, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile was first created.[40] During the Vietnam War, war photography was used to sway public opinion.[29]

During the 1970s, a small charismatic cult in North America was lost in the continent's tundras and left an elaborate cave dwelling as well as a unique language. This wouldn't be discovered until the 26th-century, at which point they were seen as a "lost tribe".[41] On August 24, 1995, Microsoft introduces the Windows 95 operating system.[24] During humanity's early days of space exploration, they used rocket ships and space shuttles.[14]

Around the early 2000s, fringe theories on humanity's origins began to emerge. The Society of the Ancients, believed that aliens had helped humanity construct technologies.[42] Dr. Jonas Volman wrote the book The Castaway Theory, that supposedly brings light to issues in human evolution.[43] The early 21st-century also saw the first planetary confirmations of what would eventually become Reach.[44] The 21st-century also saw the legal cases of Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward and Citizens United v. FEC.[45][Note 2] In 2021, the International Society of Civil Engineers was formed.[46]

Humans in the 21st-century used fighter jets as well as stealth bombers and passenger aircraft.[47] The early 21st-century was also when the first Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance systems were created.[48] The disease of cancer was rampant in the 21st-century as well as the 20th-century.[49]

The United Nations first established the Unified Earth Government in 2075.[50] Luna, Mars, the Jovian Moons and several asteroids would first be settled by humans in 2080.[51] 2090 and 2103 also saw the ends of large scale conflicts.[52] In the 2100s, the British Houses of Parliament were destroyed in a domestic terrorist act.[53] Gene therapy by the 2100s also functionally wiped out cancer.[49]

In response to the rising Koslovics, the recently formed Friedens bombed an embassy in Thynia, Europa in 2158.[54] The Jovian Moons Campaign, Rainforest Wars, Battle of Delambre, Mars Campaign and finally, the Interplanetary War all came from the continued clashes between these factions. Sometimes these separate conflicts are collectively referred to as the Interplanetary war.[31] The 22nd-century also saw the court case The People v. Asklon Light Atomics.[45]

Space colonization

Main articles: Domus Diaspora, Human colonies
Dr. Wallace Fujikawa (left), and Dr. Tobias Fleming Shaw (right), the co-creators of the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine.

The Interplanetary War in the 2160s marked a major shift in humanity's governance: after a violent conflict spanning the Solar System, the UEG was formed into a true governing body in charge of all human nations. While growing overpopulation on Earth continued to pose challenges for the new government, 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.[5]

This expansion was 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 establish colonies at enhanced rates.[5] In the background, the progress of human civilization was being subtly manipulated for hundreds of years by the The Assembly, a shadowy collective of AIs committed to humanity's survival.[55]

The Insurrection

Main article: Insurrection

After over a century of prosperous expansion, humanity's populations had spread relatively thin across hundreds of worlds in a volume of space dozens of light-years across. The colonies had become divided among the Inner and Outer Colonies, the former representing the first established, stable and wealthy populations and while the latter were responsible for supplying a large portion of the resources that allowed the core worlds their high standard of living. As predicted by sociologist Dr. Elias Carver, a buildup of discontent among the Outer Colonial populations eventually culminated in the onset of numerous brushfire wars across the Outer Colonies which would come to be known collectively as the Insurrection. The UEG's fear of these civil conflicts escalating into a projected apocalyptic war between the Inner and Outer colonies led to the creation of the ORION and SPARTAN-II supersoldier programs, along with extensive UNSC military campaigns across the colonies.[5] These pioneering efforts would pave way for safer and more widespread human augmentation, with Spartan supersoldiers being produced in increasingly large numbers over the following decades.[7]

The Covenant War

Main article: Human-Covenant War
A human population center under attack by the Covenant.

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.[56]

Humans have been able to show great bravery when facing insurmountable odds. Some of the members of the Covenant wondered why their leadership had refused to allow the humans to join them, as they had been able to hold steadfast even when outmatched in almost every way.[57] 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.[58] In the ensuing battles over possession of Earth, humanity suffered heavy casualties.[6]

Post-war

Main article: Post-Covenant War conflicts
The Voi Memorial, held in memory of those fallen in the war.

Following the final battle of the war on December 11, 2552,[59] the Human-Covenant War ended in a victory for humanity and their newfound Sangheili allies - the majority of the 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 the Ark. This victory came in time to save the human homeworld, thanks chiefly to the actions of Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and Spartan John-117. The Human-Covenant War was officially declared over on March 3, 2553, when a memorial service was held near Voi, Kenya, to those fallen during the 27 years of fighting.[6]

In her inaugural speech in January 2553, President of the Unified Earth Government Ruth Charet outlined humanity's future and foreign policy, promising that they would rebuild as well as stating that humanity would now reclaim their "rightful place in the universe". While humanity was willing to coexist with other species, they would never again allow themselves to be the victims of alien aggression. While the official stance within the government and the military was to build peace with the Sangheili, the UNSC's Office of Naval Intelligence covertly worked to neutralize the Sangheili, whom they considered the most acute threat to human primacy.[60]

The end of the Covenant War did not spell a lasting peace for humankind and new conflicts soon began to emerge. Various Covenant remnants, most prominently the Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, initiated skirmishes against humanity in addition to renewed internecine conflict sparked by resurgent Insurrectionist movements such as the New Colonial Alliance. The UNSC fared significantly better against these significantly weaker incarnations of the Covenant, with improved assets and technology, such as the UNSC Infinity and the SPARTAN-IVs, at their disposal proving an advantage for the recovering UNSC.

The Didact's flagship fires the Composer on New Phoenix on Earth in 2557.

In 2557, the Promethean forces reemerged led by a surviving Forerunner known as the Didact, who once commanded the Forerunner armies against prehistoric humanity in the Human-Forerunner War. Once awakened on Requiem, the Didact allied with Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction, whilst defying the Forerunners' decision to pass down their Mantle to humanity by continuing his previous campaign of digital genocide. 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. The Didact attempted to digitize humanity with the Composer, but was defeated at the last minute by John-117 and his AI Cortana,[7] though seven million human lives were composed.[61]

On October 2558, humanity experienced their first major setback since the end of the war. Earth and most human colonies were taken over by the Created.[62] Crippled and weakened by the Created, humanity's fleeing UNSC lost the Battle over Installation 07 against the Banished, an alien mercenary organization that had recruited humans into their ranks.[63]

Biology

Anatomy and physiology

The skin, muscle, and skull layer of a human head.

Humans are mammals, and are closely related to other large apes on the planet Earth. Like all placental mammals, they are warm-blooded and give birth to live offspring, and nourish their offspring with milk. They have five fingers, one being an opposable thumb. This hand structure aided them in making tools early in their history.

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 Jiralhanae. 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. If in extreme distress, humans can tap into hidden reserves of energy, known as an adrenaline rush, thus giving them drastically increased strength. This response is known as the "Fight or Flight" reflex.

In theory at least, physical conditioning can still negate the disadvantages of human physiology somewhat, and with the right enhancements and equipment, humans can overcome their physical disadvantages to an even further extent as demonstrated by the Spartans. Biological augmentation is not restricted to the Spartans; humans have routinely used bioengineering technologies for centuries, first to adapt to different conditions encountered in space and on other worlds, as well as a certain degree of enhancement given to military personnel.[64] However, such enhancements do not provide as immediately conspicuous increase in physical prowess as those of the Spartans.

Forerunner connections

Main article: Reclaimer

Human and Forerunner genera exhibit a number of anatomical and physical similarities, despite having evolved independently on different worlds. These genetic similarities are due to the two species both originally being seeded by the Precursors from the same base stock.[65] The Forerunners themselves were intrigued by the similarities between their own race and humanity. Because of their similarities, some Forerunner scholars theorized that humans were a kindred species, created by the Precursors in their own image, just as the Forerunners believed themselves to be.[4]

The Sangheili Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam, and a number of humans, including SPARTAN-II John-117.

The Forerunners chose humans to become the inheritors of their technology along with Forerunners' sacred Mantle, which they formerly believed to have inherited from the Precursors. The Forerunners re-encoded certain aspects of their technology (e.g. the activation 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 passed the torch to humanity, in hope that in the future they would defeat the Flood again, which with some help, John-117 did. The Librarian imprinted the human race with a geas, a pattern of information hidden deep in the genetic code and passed on throughout generations.[4] According to the Librarian, this imprint triggered the development of many technologies which proved critical to the survival of humanity after their contact with the Covenant, as well as containing several latent abilities.[66] This may also explain the "natural" understanding of Forerunner interfaces some humans have demonstrated despite having no prior contact with Forerunner technology.[67] Latent human memories and patterns extracted during the Conservation Measure were also implanted into the genetic code of future human generations.[68][69]

Despite this, many Forerunner AI constructs seem to regard humans as Forerunner (although some fail to do so).[70] This confusion was also the root of the Covenant's campaign to exterminate humanity. In 2525, a Covenant 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 Vice Minister of Tranquility. He took the information to the Minister of Fortitude and he went to see the Oracle (the Forerunner AI, Mendicant Bias, in the Forerunner 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 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 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."[71]

Culture and society

Humans gathered in the commissioning ceremony of the UNSC Infinity.

Humanity remains multicultural among its still marginally independent nations on both Earth and the colonies. Although humanity has adopted English as a lingua franca, other languages remain in use among human populations. Humans continue to practice a number of religions, although apart from several exceptions faith is largely considered a personal matter.

Unlike other societies, like the Sangheili, males and females serve in the military in an equal capacity; showers and housing facilities are likewise shared.[72][73] The absence of old cultural and racial hatreds within the UEG-governed humanity hearkens back to the philosophy that gave rise to it in the 22nd century, when the extremist Frieden and Koslovic ideologies threatened to consume all of humankind.[74]

Much like the cultural changes wrought by the colonization of the Earth in the past, space colonization has its own unpredictable effects on the cultures of colonial populations. While some colony worlds are multicultural from the beginning, others receive the majority of their colonists from a given region or nation on Earth, which often makes its own mark on the development of the colony's own culture. As populations settle new worlds, cultures distort and sometimes amalgamate; however, it is common for the locals to consciously hold on to their Earth cultural heritage. This often takes the form of naming the colony world's locales after the native region or local mythology of its inhabitants. Examples of such worlds include Reach, colonized by Hungarian settlers, Madrigal, with its predominantly Hispanic population, or Harvest, which fashioned its culture after the American-Scandinavian ancestry of the majority of its colonists. Over time, colonial cultures tend to retain several very conspicuous traits of their roots while others are forgotten or altered; cultures essentially become "parodies" of what they used to be.[75] Meanwhile, many of the Outer Colonies, especially those with settlers from highly varied and unregulated backgrounds,[76] appear as more chaotic hodgepodges of cultures with no single distinct origin culture in evidence. This has become all the more pronounced on independent worlds such as Venezia after the Human-Covenant War as former client species of the Covenant intermingle with the local human populations.[77]

Arts and entertainment

Urban infrastructure in many cities of the 26th century showcased a variety of architectural styles from different eras, but largely favored brutalism. 24th century colonial dwellings of the early Domus Diaspora were known to have a distinct style, described as "mostly white with blue trim"[78] and the trend of constructing buildings with similar architecture to starships began around this time, something that would come in and out of style over the years.[79]

Music has been a long tradition in human culture with historic examples such as the Rachmaninov composed Piano Concerto Number Three,[80] the Mahler composed Symphony No. 2,[81] and the Debussy composed Préludes No. 4: Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir,[82] all of which Dr. Halsey listened to in the 26th-century. As well, there was the music of the last act of Der Ring des Nibelungen, something Richard Lash was familiar with.[83] Gabriel Thorne's grandmother was composed while practicing violin, her computer terminal displaying Mozart's Communio: Lux Aeterna from his Requiem Mass and the Ave verum corpus motet.[84]

By the 26th-century, there was the prevalent flip music an evolution of 21st-century rock.[85] The styllight was a 26th-century musical instrument.[86]

Cosmic Commedia Cooperative is a form of 25th-century absurdist theater.[87]

Military culture

The UNSC's predominance casts a distinct air of militarism over most of humanity; military service and heroism are glorified to great lengths by UNSC propaganda, as well as the media. Many residents of the Unified Earth Government seem to have a particular reverence for military history, so much that when Dr. Halsey was deciphering Forerunner coordinate data under CASTLE Base on Reach, she compared the significance of its discovery to the invention of the Translight Engine or the conical bullet.[88] For orphans who become wards of the state on UEG worlds, enlisting in the UNSC is mandatory once they come of age.[89] While the press evidently enjoys some degree of freedom,[90] the media is heavily regulated by ONI's Section Two. The UNSC adopted its policy media control after the Inner Colony Wars, when sensationalist news reports of the conflict spread mass panic and threatened to dismantle Earth's culture.[91] This aspect of humanity strengthened with the UNSC's establishment as humanity's emergency government and the unfolding of the Human-Covenant War, and shows little signs of fading following the end of the war. These practices, combined with the UNSC's policy with the colonies, have elicited accusations of totalitarianism in elements of the population, and are often pointed out by colonial secessionists in their own propaganda.

Some elements of the UNSC Marine Corps, have been a part of humanity for centuries originating back to 1775,[32] when the United States Marine Corps was founded.[32][31]

Homeworld and colonies

The city of Mindoro on the human colony of Cascade.
Main articles: Earth, human colonies

Having possessed slipspace travel for over two centuries, humanity's sphere of influence has expanded to cover a sizable region of space surrounding their home system. These colonies are roughly divided amongst the Inner Colonies and Outer Colonies; the former consisting of the 210 worlds colonized between 2362 and 2390, and the Outer Colonies encompassing all colonies established afterward. At its height, around the 2490's, human space encompassed 800 worlds, ranging from thriving hubs of commerce and military to various lesser worlds which mostly existed to provide the core worlds with resources and foodstuffs, as well as yet smaller outposts and settlements. A significant number of these worlds were glassed by the Covenant over the course of the Human-Covenant War.[5]

While all colonies are formally represented equally within the Unified Earth Government, the true power is often perceived to rest on the Inner Colonies and Earth. This has led to widespread separatism and even civil war, and many Outer Colonies have declared themselves independent from the UEG over the decades. Because many of the colonies are invaluable to the core worlds due to the resources they produce, the UEG has historically sought to maintain its control over them by any means necessary, including military intervention, which in turn provoked the colonial insurgents all the more.[5]

Population

In October 2552, Cortana said that humanity suffered 23 billion casualties throughout the course of the Human-Covenant War, making it the minimal amount of humans alive before the war.[92]

Earth was deemed overpopulated in the 22nd century, jump-starting the colonization programs at the time.[93] Despite the colonization efforts made to resolve the overpopulation issue, Earth's population still remained in the billions.[94] The population of Earth prior to the Battle of Earth was at an approximate 10 billion: the population was said to have been cut in half at the start of the Covenant attack.[2][95] By the end of the battle, the population count was reduced to 200 million; this was both due to casualties inflicted by the Covenant as well as a massive off-planet evacuation effort.[96][97] Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, the population of Earth increased dramatically due to the influx of returning evacuees and refugees from other worlds, being again in the billions by the end of the year 2553.[96]

Location Planet Population Approximate Circa
Sol system Earth 10,000,000,000 Yes Pre-Oct. 2552[98][99]
200,000,000 Yes Nov. 2552[100][101]
7,900,000,000 Yes Post-war[102]
Inner Colonies Reach 703,341,500 No 2535[44]
121,000 Yes 2558[103]
Outer Colonies Bliss 500,000,000 Yes Feb. 2526[104]
Etalan 10,000,000 Yes Mar. 2526[105]
Arcadia 2,998,230 No Pre-2531[106]
Eridanus II 510,000 Yes Post-war[102]
Harvest 3,000,000[Note 3] Yes 2525
Unknown Ariel 4000 Yes Jan. 2552[107]
Alluvion 336,000,000+ Yes Pre-2542[108]
Bounty 199,000,000+ Yes Pre-Aug. 2552[108]
Mesa 219,000,000+ Yes Pre-Aug. 2552[108]
Greydowns 76,830,400 Yes Pre-Aug. 2552[108]
Kroedis II 15,000,000+ Yes Pre-Aug. 2552[108]
Estuary 89,000,000+ Yes Pre-Aug. 2552[108]
Camber 5,600,000 Yes Pre-Aug. 2552[108]
Sigma Octanus IV 17,000,000 Yes July 2552[109]

Technology

A hologram of the AI Sloan, under the ship Meridian 5-Alpha.

Prior to the human-Forerunner wars, humanity had achieved a remarkably advanced technological state, having developed interstellar travel, colonized thousands of worlds outside of their solar system,[110] and even having an understanding of Precursor technology. However, nearly 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.[4] Unfortunately, this technological and cultural development proved to be in vain: during a phase after the Conservation Measure's reintroduction stage, aptly termed as the dark time,[2] the species regressed back into hunter-gatherers for over 90,000 years until the development of the modern human civilizations first began.

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.[111]

Concept art of various human tools.
Concept art of various human tools.

By the 26th century, human technology has not advanced equally for every concept previously explored. The most basic technologies (such as the ballistic weaponry and the wheel) have 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. However, certain significant advancements have been made in other fields, such as Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engines that allow ships to reach other star systems, as well as the creation of highly sophisticated AIs that can serve to fulfill a versatile amount of roles. In addition, humans have also developed various forms of nanotechnology which allows many advances impossible with conventional engineering. Other common construction materials include polycrete, permacrete and instacrete.

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.[7][60] Thanks to technology received from the Swords of Sanghelios and Kig-Yar merchants researchers were able to leapfrog centuries of trial-and-error experimentation and theory building.[112]

AI, robotics and automation

Human AI constructs can be grouped into two main categories; "dumb" and "smart" AIs. These labels are technically misleading, as both types are extremely intelligent, but dumb AIs are only capable of learning about subjects within their designated area of expertise, whereas smart AIs exhibit much more human-like characteristics, such as emotions, creativity and intuition. Smart AIs can only be created by scanning a human brain and replicating the neural pattern to a digital storage system known as a Riemann matrix. However, after seven years of operation, the AI will descend to a terminal condition known as rampancy. Various solutions have been attempted to counter this issue, but none are known to have been effectively implemented.[113]

Although the UNSC still relies heavily on human combatants, robotic drones are used in combat to a certain extent, often providing fire support or real-time reconnaissance on the battlefield. Examples of UNSC drones include the F-99 Wombat, the MAKO and ARGUS drones.[114]

In civilian society, automated systems—sometimes controlled by the subprocesses of a larger AI—have found uses in piloting civilian vehicles as well as performing most manual labor in agriculture and industry.[115] The scale of AI-driven automation ranges from single cities to entire worlds; the former sometimes operated by a "dumb" AI such as the Superintendent while "smart" AI Mack's oversight of Harvest's agricultural operations is an example of the latter.

Medical advances and biotechnology

Medical augmentations of Carter-A259 as part of Project CHRYSANTHEMUM.

Humanity has mastered a number of medical technologies, improving the quality of life in general but also providing many military applications. Among the most prominent is flash cloning, which allows the re-growth of almost any body part and is often used to replace damaged or lost organs.[116] Lost limbs may also be replaced with advanced mechanical prosthetics.[117] Humans have been effectively immunized against some conventional diseases, including cancer. Though isolated cases of cancer still occur, they can be easily treated.[49] Medical science has resolved most issues with eyesight, although some people choose to wear glasses for a variety of reasons, among them the ability to use them to project a heads-up display.[118]

On long slipspace voyages, humans use cryo chambers, allowing the occupant to enter cryonic suspension which effectively stops biological aging for the duration of the journey. These and many more advances have continued to push human longevity beyond prior estimates; with flash-cloned organ transplants, coupled with time spent in cryosleep, one's biological age may be decades less than their chronological one.[119]

The use of sterile field generators 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;[120] with sufficiently sophisticated equipment such as that of the UNSC Hopeful, the resuscitation of individuals traditionally considered dead is not unheard of.[121] Biological death can also be delayed by placing an individual into cryonic suspension until proper medical care can be provided.[122] 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.

Humans have also adopted a variety of bioengineering and augmentation technologies. Human enhancements saw military application in the first interplanetary conflicts.[64] While human enhancement has been commonplace for centuries, more extensive augmentation or experimentation has been limited due to ethical concerns. An exception to this are the biochemical and cybernetic augmentations used in the SPARTAN programs, which represent the peak of human medical technology in the field of biological enhancement. Human rebels also use "Rumbledrugs", which degenerate the user's body but grant them superhuman abilities for a short time.[49]

UNSC personnel are equipped with neural implants, more sophisticated models of which—typically issued to ship captains—enable a human mind to interface with computer systems and receive or send information. The neural marker is an interviewing device which can record an individual's thoughts and visualize them on a monitor.[123] Cognitive Impression Modeling allows the translation of a human brain's neural framework into digital form for the purpose of creating AIs, although this is not true mind transfer in the manner of that employed by the Forerunners: the resulting intelligence is not a perfect copy of the person it was created from due to the chaotic process in which the AI is brought into being.[113]

Space-faring

Main article: Human starship
Different types of UNSC starships in orbit of Camber.

During the mid-20th century, humanity experimented with rocket technology using it to build satellites and visit and subsequently colonize the Moon and beyond in the latter half of the 21st century. With the advent of Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engines allowing faster-than-light travel, the UNSC was able to expand well beyond the confines of the Solar System, colonizing hundreds of worlds. UNSC freighters transport food and goods between colonies, while UNSC Navy warships protect trade routes from pirates and defend colonies from enemy assault. Space elevators are used on many worlds to provide orbital transport. Advanced terraforming and climate control techniques have been developed, making human habitation possible even in many formerly hostile environments.

Human spacecraft are typically equipped with 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.[124][125] Rocket thrusters using triamino hydrazine as propellant are used for attitude control and small-scale maneuvering.[126] In addition to visual stealth systems, UNSC prowlers are able to use "engine baffles" to completely mask their emission profiles to match the surrounding space while running with reduced engine power.[127]

Humanity also 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. There is also 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.[128] Some UNSC ships, such as Phoenix-class colony ships or UNSC frigates 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.[129] Not all ships are equipped for atmospheric operation, however.[130] Anti-gravity is not typically implemented on craft smaller than warships and conventional engine systems are used to produce lift instead.[131]

While the weapons and combat abilities of human spacecraft were still very limited by the time of the Human-Covenant War, the reverse-engineering of Covenant and Forerunner technologies has subsequently granted humanity multiple advances in these technologies.[60]

Weapons

M6G2 magnums being produced at Misriah Armory on Mars in Halo: Arms Race.
Numerous M6 series pistols.

While still primarily based on projectiles and chemical reactions, human weapons are 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 pulses. Still, there have been many advanced developments, such as electromagnetic accelerator weapons. The most prominent of these is the Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, used as the main armament on UNSC warships, and in smaller form in 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 prowlers. Advances in technology allow the development of highly efficient explosive devices, including the Lancet micro-missiles, capable of decimating main battle tanks.[114]

One of the largest breakthroughs came in the mid-20th century where humans discovered that nuclear fission and fusion can be used as a weapon to cause a large explosion. By the 26th century, there are several types of nuclear weapons 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

UNSC personnel in a number of vehicles including aircraft and ground vehicles.

Human land vehicles rely on wheeled, continuous track motion, or legs for locomotion. 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. Some use hydrogen-fuel cell engines.

Humans use marine craft on some planets.

Most human aircraft are designed with Vertical Take-off and Landing capabilities, using adjustable jet engines for lift and thrust. It is possible that some incorporate lifting body principles.

Communications

By the end of the Covenant War, humanity had developed superluminal communications systems enabling instantaneous communication and data transfer across interstellar distances.[132] 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.[133] For short-range communications, humanity employs conventional radio, as well as tight-beam laser[134] and maser-based systems.[126] The various human communication systems are commonly shortened to "COM".[134]

Gallery

List of appearances

Notes

  1. ^ While Dr. Halsey mentions that the conical bullet was developed in the 18th-century, actual conical bullets saw their development circa the 1830s. The statement was likely intended to mean the 1800s, but for the sake of consistency the article will use the 18th-century designation.
  2. ^ An actual case named Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward took place in 1819. However, the case in Halo: Saint's Testimony was mentioned as a 21st and 22nd corporate law case. While it was likely intended to be the 1819 case, it will be listed and treated similarly to it's description in Saint's Testimony
  3. ^ According to Halo: The Fall of Reach, Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp, and Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, Harvest had a population of approximately three million. However, Halo: Contact Harvest consistently states that Harvest had a population of around 300,000, and that roughly 250,000 civilians, who constituted most of the planet's population, escaped before the planet was glassed.

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  121. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 97
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