Library Data:First Imperium
The first major interstellar civilization, politically and culturally dominated by Humans originating on Vland. The jump drive was invented on Vland in -9235. Immediately the Vilani discovered a number of interfertile and technologically primitive Human races on worlds within 60 parsecs. These were gradually brought to a high-technology state with Vilani help and assimilated into a loose interstellar community bound by trade and common culture.[1]
Eventually, the client races themselves explored beyond the local sphere, contacting and trading with still more races. These new races gained their technology without being assimilated into Vilani culture. The resulting increase in cultural friction eventually triggered a series of wars beginning about -5400.[1]
In response to the threat, Vland began tightening its control of its trade sphere, finally organizing it into a centralized state in -5273. This marked the beginnings of the First Imperium, although there was as yet no emperor. During the 1,000-year period of the Consolidation Wars, Vland conquered and absorbed its enemies until no civilized states remained on its borders (except for a portion of the Vargr Extents, isolated from the Imperium by the Great Rift).[1]
The last war ended in -4045, and the Vilani declared the establishment of an interstellar empire to govern all Vilani territory. Known as the Grand Empire of Stars or Ziru Sirka, Vilani dating begins at this point. With no exterior threats, the Ziru Sirka lasted for nearly 1,200 years; at its height, which was attained soon after the end of the wars, the First Imperium contained 27 sectors and more than 15,000 worlds.[1]
The cost of maintaining centralized control over this vast expanse was cultural rigidity. Exploration had ceased with the beginning of the wars; now scientific research slowed to a halt and the beginnings of a hereditary caste system began to emerge. Civilization declined.[1]
As long as no exterior threat surfaced, the Grand Empire was safe; but gradually technology leaked across the borders, despite all efforts. New interstellar states arose, and the Imperium could no longer afford to absorb them. Gradually, the Imperium lost territory along its coreward and trailing marches. Then, in -2422, the Imperium was contacted along its rimward border by the Terrans, who had recently emerged into space. Terran expansionism led to a series of interstellar wars, which ultimately resulted in Terran conquest of the Imperium in -2204 and the founding of the Rule of Man.[1]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Loren Wiseman. GURPS Traveller Core Rules (Steve Jackson Games, 1998), 33.
Other References
- John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 27.
- Marc Miller. The Traveller Book (Game Designers Workshop, 1982), 147.
- James Holden, Joe D. Fugate Sr., Terrance McInnes. Vilani & Vargr (Digest Group Publications, 1990), 5.
- Marc Miller. Marc Miller's Traveller (Imperium Games, 1996), 185.
- Colin Dunn. Library Data (Mongoose Publishing, 2011), 21.
- Christopher Griffen. The Third Imperium (Mongoose Publishing, 2021), 59.