It is just at this stage, humanity can confront such questions directly. Note that all empires at their zenith do this kind of thing. The Cycle of Empires may be applied to a race of Precursors whom have left influences on some or all of the races of the area.ĭuring the final empire, humanity/interstellar civilization becomes highly civilized, peace reigns, and humanity explores the ultimate questions (God, Life, and the Universe). Otherwise, it leads up to:Īlternately, Humanity may find itself surrounded by other alien empires, This is the Standard Sci Fi Setting, with intrigue and war looming ever present in the background. From here, the history can circle round back to Formation of Empire. Interstellar trade and communications resume, and the seeds of a new Empire are planted. Rarely, this can end with humanity's extinction. A lot of Space Opera tales are set in this stage. Interstellar trade and communication fails, final demise of the former Empire, knowledge and technology is lost, rise of petty wars and kingdoms. Expect this phase to bear at least a passing familiarity to Edward Gibbon's seminal text or Gibbon's own successors, though exceptions have been known to exist. At the end of this phase, the Empire is but a shadow of itself. Outer provinces begin to revolt, barbarians begin to invade, internal conflict increases. The Empire begins to decay, often due to decadency and corruption. If this period doesn't turn out to be the Final Empire, eventually the edifice begins to crack, leading to: Tales set during this period typically focus on exploration of unknown space, or small scale dramas - the kind of events that might shake a solar system, but go completely unnoticed by the larger galaxy. Presumably there's simply not enough action. Whichever iteration it is, authors rarely focus much on the Empire itself. Third and later empires are essentially the same setting as the Second Empire, but the higher number serves to imply an old galaxy, not locked in stasis. In the Golden Age, the Second Empire was often also the Final Empire. The Second Empire is generally wiser and more benevolent, but is also aware that empires can fall. The various iterations of empire differ slightly. During the Interregnum, people will look back to this time as a Golden Age. The Pax Galactica reigns - a long period of peace and prosperity throughout space (on the surface at least). Technology is highly advanced and there is order. Here, civilization is at its apex, showing the best qualities and values. The First Empire is often centered on Earth. It could be The Federation, The Republic, or the rise of interstellar civilization. Note: Empire doesn't have to mean The Empire (although it often does). The result is the birth and expansion of a new government. Sometimes they join together for a common defense, perhaps for cultural or economic reasons, or by force. See also The War of Earthly Aggression.Īt this point, the independent human and/or alien worlds unite for whatever reason. If the timespan till the next phase is long enough, multiple wars may be used to fill the centuries in-between.

Whenever it happens, it serves to wipe the political map clean, removing all modern day nations as players. No matter how bad it gets, Earth and humanity eventually recover. But often, a devastating war occurs in the beginning of the timeline. When the Apocalypse occurs can actually vary, sometimes after Interstellar Colonization, sometimes before Spaceflight, sometimes during the Decline of the Empire. This may also be triggered by or resulting in an environmental collapse or deadly pandemic or famine. Typical plots also include the colonies starting Wars of Independence from Earth.ĭisaster strikes (often nuclear war), and Earth is devastated, bringing most modern nations to ruin. Terraforming and colonization of Mars and possibly Venus has begun in earnest, and Space Colonies are usually popping up around Jupiter and the other Gas Giants to harvest their bounty. While travel times may be immense, space trips are common and a message can always reach Earth in under a day. Humanity explores Venus, Mars, and the Outer Solar System.

Exploration and Colonization of the Solar System

Intra-orbit travel is typically done in a few hours from closer Lagange points, with maybe a day at the farthest distances.ġ. Forays to the Asteroid Belt to gather resources are typically the farthest frontier. Apart from the oldest SF, none of the worlds explored are humanly habitable, so travel to other worlds in the system will be very limited. Space Stations, Space Elevators, and even Colonies may be erected in orbit around the Earth, and bases and colonies constructed on the Moon. Mankind reaches and fully explores the Moon. Although the details greatly vary, the outline was basically the same:

Ancient space tv tropes