History

Time, if you are not already familiar with it, is not so easily broken neatly into eras. Some might even argue that, because of the incongurences of historical records, the different rates of social and technological development, and the fog of ideology that clouds the lenses pointing back in time, any attempt to create a universal schematic for a division of history is futile. Thus, I, as the archivist, do not seek to create a universal breakdown of historical eras; but rather, a rough division of history into eras specifically pertaining and catering to the development and evolution of Radiak society, technology, and experiences.

The Modern Era (5377 D.T.-Present)

Acceptance of industrialization, mass-communication, and tight interconnectedness across the entire globe as the norm, rather than the exception, are the main hallmarks of the Modern Era. Technological advancement regularly outpaces the social, legal, and biological capacity to keep up with it. The Radiak is confronted with all of these challenges in much the same way as a Stable is, in addition to the historical baggage borne by his ancestors.

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The Age of Expansion (4689 D.T.-5376 D.T.)

Rapid technological advancement and the spread of new technology in the world at large benefitted Stables as well as Radiaks, carving out new niches for intellectual pursuits. Inevitably, some of these niches were filled by Radiaks, due to the demand for intellectually fit persons far outpacing the supply of qualified Stables. The Age of Expansion is broadly defined by a levelling of social classes and identity groups at the dawn of a shared new appetite for scientific and spiritual discovery.

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The Degenerate Era (3751 D.T.-4688 D.T.)

The combined factors of declining interconnectedness between Radiak populations, voluntary and forced assimilation into Stable cultures, and persecution of Radiaks both in Atman and in the diaspora culminated in the Degenerate Era, a time demarcated by a sharp drop-off of written records and physical artifacts of Radiak life and affairs, which only sometimes coincided with a siimlar trend across the Stable world.

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The Posiyani Era (2501 D.T.-3750 D.T.)

Internal weakening of the Radiak city-states due to poor weather, political corruption, and outside hostilities led to the collapse of many of the Radiak city-states, with the remaining cities reverting to small independent settlements, or being absorbed into Stable city-states and empires. The remainder of the Radiak population dispersed from Atman and wandered the globe, begetting the name of this era—Posiyani means "sown," describing the Radiaks who who fled Atman. Literacy, however, remained high among diaspora Radiaks.

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Antiquity (1 D.T.-2500 D.T.)

The first written records of the Radiak language, religion, and culture emerged during Antiquity. An array of intimately connected and rapidly advancing city-states flourished across Atman, the Radiak homeland.

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Prehistory (4.6 BYA-0 D.T.)

The first inklings of Radiak language, religion, and culture were born in prehistory, evidenced by cave art and artifacts bearing Radiak symbols, found in and around the areas where the Radiak nation would eventually emerge.

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Miscellaneous

This section is for anything else history-related that has not been covered above. It is organized alphabetically.

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