Beginnings of Sternbergopolan History
Before learning about the history of Sternbergopolis, you can read the sections below to learn more about where Sternbergopolis came from and how civilisation began.
Formation of Planet May & The First Lifeforms
The process of the formation of Planet May (the planet on which Sternbergopolis is located) has been a highly debated topic by Sternbergopolan astronomers, geologists, and biologists for over 200 years. Currently, the way the planet was formed is officially unknown, though there are many theories. The most popular theory, proposed in 1951 by Dr. Bruce Garrington, states that Planet May was formed around five billion years ago from clouds of gas and space dust, similar to the formation of other life-inhabiting planets, especially Earth, most similarly. When Planet May was first formed, conditions were too extreme for organisms to live, and did not live until a few billion years later. Little oxygen and other essential elements for life were not present in the atmosphere. The temperature was very hot and the air had extreme amounts of pressure. Eventually, the cooling off of lava led to solid rock, and the cooling of the gases finally allowed for liquid water to settle, thus allowing for the first organisms to form. These organisms, which consisted of things like bacteria and algae, produced oxygen using the process of photosynthesis. Over time, this oxygen collected in the atmosphere, allowing for protection from the harmful rays of the sun (Sternbergopolis' sun is officially called Hüs, but more commonly referred to as "The Sun"), as well as providing the oxygen which is crucial for plants and animals to live. After this, the planet and the organisms on it further developed. The beginning of life started with simpler organisms, and led to more complex organisms. Many species resembled those that are alive today, however, none of the species alive then still exist in modern times do to factors such as extinction and evolution. Meanwhile, as lifeforms changed, the planet was also changing. Sternbergopolis exists on its own continent, called May's Continent. This continent was far larger in ancient times, and it was called a supercontinent.Underneath all of the land and oceans is a system of constantly moving plates that shift the planet's water and land. Over time, the plates moved in such a direction that this supercontinent was split apart, sending some pieces to connect and form Sternbergopolis, while others ended up below sea level, or as small islands slightly above ground.
The First Humans
One of the most miraculous mysteries of science is how a near exactly the same species has developed on so far what seems to be four known planets. There have been many similar predecessors to moderns humans (beginning with evolution from primates), however, this section focuses on the development of the two currently existing species of modern humans. Modern humans exist in two different forms. Homo sapiens is a species of human that seemed to have first appeared on Earth around 200,000 years ago, and it is so far the only known planet where they exist. Homo sapiens diversis is the species of human known to exist on the three inhabitable planets of the Izorp Galaxy, and the oldest known fossils of this species lead anthropologists to believe that they began to exist around the same time. In terms of anatomy and behaviour, both species are nearly identical. Any minor difference found between the two have not been known to cause variation in development or function. Humans as we know them today came about from biological advancements in these two species over time. Humans reached a point of maturity in which they can be considered the same as we are today. On Earth, this point was around 50,000 years ago. In Sternbergopolis and on its neigbouring planets, this point was about 35,000 years ago. The first humans, however, were primitive mentally and had not yet created civilisation. The first humans in both cases were nomadic, and moved from place to place to follow food (which usually consisted of hunting and gathering), as well as to avoid harsh conditions during periods of climatic change. Many events over the course of time changed this way of life for humans.
The First Civilisations in Sternbergopolis
While Earthen, Zeppanian, and Apperinian civilisations took similar courses of development over the years, this section focuses solely on the development of Maylin civilisation. However, the event that scholars believe "jump-started" this advancement in all planets involved was the Neolithic Revolution. In short, the Neolithic Revolution was a time period in which the first humans became no longer nomadic, and began to obtain resources through agricultural methods rather than hunting and gathering. Agriculture, domestication, irrigation, and other processes helped lead to people staying in one place. It can be inferred that because these humans stayed in one place, they could focus less on the basic necessities of life and focus more on things such as improvements in shelter and technology, thus the beginning of civilisation. By this time period, fire had already been discovered by less modern humans, however, huge advancements such as the invention of the wheel had been made. The first known civilisations on Planet May seemed to have existed in scattered locations throughout the continent, but the majority of them seemed to have originated in the north and northeast regions of the continent, in present-day Nickelford, East Nickelford, and Griswold. The oldest records that scientists have found of a civilisation is that of the Brakubu people, who lived in what is now East Nickelford, about 50 kilometres from the city of Vadello. The civilisation was discovered in 1978 by a boy riding his bicycle off into the woods when he stumbled upon what seemed to be a collection of crude weapons, including multiple spears. Excavation of the site resulted in the discovery of primitive shelters, as well as a host of human remains. Tests in later years showed the remains to be from about 7500 BC. Other small cultures developed across the areas as well, most notably the Idemedesans, which eventually grew to be a thriving kingdom into ancient times, and even into the modern age.
