Terra, or Sol III,^[1] is the planet of origin of humanity.

History

Early history

The earliest known civilizations on Earth can be traced back to approximately 19000 BG (c. 2800 BCE). The First Empire was believed to be started by Aleksandr (Alexander III of Macedon) roughly around 16500 BG (circa 300 BCE),^[2] a millennia-long period that saw humanity's advancement from the use of bronze tools to an iron-based civilization.

The "Imperial Seat" was considered to be the geopolitical center of power belonging to the most influential nation-state on the planet during a given time period, and changed on many occasions, such as during the ascendancy of Rome around 16400 BG (c. 200 BCE), which conquered the known world except for China, which resisted until 14400 BG (c. 1800 CE). The Roman Empire ended in 16000 BG (c. 200 CE), but the First Empire persisted under Byzantium (after provincial jihads and minor rebellions in 15800 BG, or c. 400 CE evolved it into the Byzantine Empire), followed by a brief interval in the Century Without an Emperor (14700 BG-14608 BG, or c. 1500-1608 CE); until discoveries in America brought about by primitive naval exploratory missions allowed Madrid to attain the historical status of the Imperial Seat.^[2]

In 14512 BG (1588 CE), at the Battle of Englichannel, the Imperial Seat moved to London, thereafter or where humanity saw the Golden Age of Invention (during 14500 BG-14200 BG, c. 1700-2000 CE).^[2] It was at that time the ancestors on Old Terra created numerous electronic toys of little practical value.^[3]

In 14255 BG (1945 CE), the first atomics were demonstrated during a intraprovicial war, and Washington became the new human Imperial Seat.^[2] The practice of maintaining stockpiles of atomic weapons as an integral part of a House's defenses began.^[4]

Expansion of humanity

Approximately around the year 14100 BG (c. 2100 CE), the colonization of the solar system commenced from Old Earth following the formation of a coalition involving the northern, southern, and western political blocs, with at least one high-ranking member of the Bene Gesserrette (ancient forerunner of the Bene Gesserit) serving as chief director of off-Terran exploration for the coalition. Eventually, the population of Earth would be outnumbered by those living off world in the greater solar system by a factor of 20 to 1. This great expansion later became known as the Little Diaspora.^[2] The Corrida traveled from Old Terra with its people, though it was apparently not nearly as popular before the Jihad as it was afterwards.^[5]

In 13402 BG (2798 CE), a strike by a planetoid impacted upon Earth, and the asteroid Ceres became the new Imperial Seat. Starting the following year, the Rescue of the Treasures salvaged many relics of human history,^[2] and spread them across the Known Universe, until the operation concluded in 13399 BG (2801 CE).

In 13360 BG (2840 CE), Terra was re-seeded with both plant and animal life, and set aside as a natural park, as per Imperil edict.^[2] Earth (and its Hawaiian islands) is also where the Commission of Ecumenical Translators later converged to assemble the Orange Catholic Bible not long after the Butlerian Jihad (c. 108 BG, or 16,192 CE).

By 2800 AG (c. 19,000 CE) Old Earth was now a Barony, an Imperial fief under the rule of House Corrino.^[2] Terrans, inhabiting the revered cradle of human life, enjoyed exemption from Imperial draft for the purposes of compulsory military service or interstellar colonization efforts. Even at this late period, Terra's deserts were also populated by Zensunni nomads (who inhabited the Sahara Desert).^[6]

However, upon the discovery of the planet Poritrin by Imperial scouts, Padishah Emperor Elrood V decided to demand a tradition-shattering levee of colonists from Old Earth in order to populate the new world. Siridar Baron Charles Mikarrol, rightly fearing a massive revolt among his subjects over the news, instead sent some two million Zensunni nomads to Poritrin against their will, beginning the Zensunni Migration.

Legacy

The origin of coats of arms was lost in the past. They were certainly used before the Imperium, and may derive from Terra itself.^[7]

The Bene Gesserit's Summa, which contained the complete breeding index of the Sisterhood, appeared to stretch back to the Golden Age of Terra.^[8]

To mark her new founded status, a Reverend Mother chose a three-part name which showed both the antiquity of the order and the efficiency of its breeding charts. A woman kept her family name to designate her position in the breeding indices, but to it she added a name (always male) from the original order of the Bene Gesserat on ancient Terra and a name honoring a famous woman from the history of the Sisterhood.^[9]

According to documents from Terra found at Dar-es-Balat, the ancient method of education involved a chaotic separation of knowledges.^[10]

A primitive picto-disc, originating on Terra and donated to the Royal Archives by a private collector, depicted Great Mother as the Goddess of Night seated on a throne between two columns.^[11]

Wesle Atreides was a lifelong student of history and wished to pattern Castle Caladan after the manor of a feudal lord of Old Terra.^[12]

The baliset was seen as not unlike an ancient instrument popular on Old Terra at the beginning of known space travel called the "guitar".^[13]

At least one book on fine arts from ancient Earth was Music of Prehistoric Terra by Arkris Th.^[14]

References