Human: Difference between revisions

{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post|Lock}}

|diet=Omnivorious

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 later 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 neighboring 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>

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 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 intended humanity to inherit the [[Mantle]], their assumed role of guardianship for all life in the galaxy. 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>

[[File:ObservingArtifact.png|250px|right|thumb|Ancient humans observing the construction of the [[Portal at Voi]].{{Ref/Reuse|hlegorigins}}]]

[[File:HellenicSpartans Origins2.png|thumb|200px|right|Early post-Great Purification human warriors.]]

[[File:HCEA Terminals AmericanAstronaut.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Early human steps on Luna.<ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)/One|Terminal 1]]</ref>]]

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 unqiue 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>  

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 for 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.}}

Although the human and [[Forerunner]] genera exhibit a number of anatomical and physical similarities, they evolved independently on different worlds and are not genetically related. However, 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 [[Precursor]]s in their own image, just as the Forerunners believed themselves to be.{{Ref/Reuse|cryptum}}

[[File:H5G-Governor Sloan.png|thumb|200px|right|A [[hologram]] of the AI [[Sloan]], under the ship ''[[Meridian 5-Alpha]]''.]]

[[File:BirthOfASpartan - Augmentation.png|thumb|right|250px|Medical augmentations of [[Carter-A259]] as part of [[Project CHRYSANTHEMUM]].]]

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}}

[[File:H2A Terminals - Camber holograph.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Different types of UNSC starships in orbit of [[Camber]].]]

[[File:HaloArmsRace3.JPG|250px|thumb|right|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]], 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}}

File:H5G-Spoopyhumans.png|Human skeletons in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' [[Forge]]

**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|Limited Edition]]''

*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''