Culture

The history of Earth’s inhabitants is one of trial, error, and change. Complex hierarchical structures are a common element of human societies, which they have retained after their development into a space-faring species. Unlike the top-down hierarchies of old, however, modern human social structures tend to be both introspective and co-operative: every member of a group must be allowed input on group actions, though proven experts and leaders are still given due precedence.

Early human societies relied on unsustainable resource extraction, facilitating their rapid development while putting extreme stress on the planet’s ecosphere. In spite of a pre-Alliance paradigm shift toward preservation, the planet is still scarred by this period, as is the earthling psyche. Historical awareness has long been a hallmark of human thought and culture.

Humans are also distinguished among members of the Alliance by having created another member species – the Anthroids. In general, the relationship between the two species may be compared to the close but occasionally awkward relationship between a doting parent and their adult child: the sense of stewardship that humans have over their planet extends to a protective instinct towards their creations, to mixed reception on the Anthroids’ part.