Since the end of the Second Galactic Dark Age, colonization of the uninhabited systems of known space has featured two kinds of movement. There is the slow, steady movement which gradually expands the inhabited reaches of our galaxy, and then there are the diasporas- historical periods where one group in particular explodes in a massive wave of colonization efforts over a relatively short period of time. Listed here are the diasporas of most historical significance.

CORELLIAN DIASPORA - c. Standard Year 450 - 550

The Corellians retained the secret of hyperspace following the final disintegration of the Santovasku and Atlantean Empires around the 3rd century BCE. However, it was not until the early decades of the fifth century Standard Calendar that Corellia's industrial capabilities were up to the construction of even modest interstellar ships, and it took time, trial and error to refine the technology enough for the first marketable starships to emerge.

By midcentury, however, three different companies were offering small, marginally affordable spaceships for independent operators to purchase for galactic exploration. (1) The Corellian people, ever in search of new opportunities and adventure, nearly destroyed their own economy in a buying frenzy and mass exodus to the stars. The planet was, of course, saved from a century-long depression by two new sources of income: exploitation of the worlds of what are now Corellian Sector, Rigel Sector, Niven Sector, and Hutt Space; and resale of starships to pre-starflight civilizations like the Vulcans, Salusians, Zardons, and Kilrathi.

By the time the dust settled, Corellia had re-colonized about a dozen worlds of the old Atlantean Empire, restored contact with six surviving Atlantean colonies, and started fresh colonies in about fifty other systems. In addition, they had begun smaller diasporas through their sales of ships: the Vulcan, Andorian, and especially Salusian diasporas were caused directly by Corellia's influence. Future Corellian colonies would be sponsored not by independent homesteaders, but by the large corporations which came after, and they chose their new sites with great care and no haste.

The colonies were, in general, administered as sources of raw materials only, and when whatever resource the colonial economy was founded on played out, the colony was left to fend for itself. It was this sort of callous disregard for the colonial citizens that built up the popular hatred for the government which, in turn, allowed the corporations to overthrow the monarchy at the turn of the 19th century. Unfortunately, conditions have not improved since then, further enhancing the Corellian tendencies towards wanderlust and entrepeneurship.

FIRST SALUSIAN DIASPORA - c. 510 to 600

Unlike most races (which colonize only those systems closest to their home world), the Salusians greeted the arrival of Corellian technology by using it to explore deep stretches of space. Even more so than Corellians, Salusians became known as the explorers and traders of the galaxy's far frontier. Their reasons were not so carefree as the Corellians, however: the Salusians had been at interplanetary war with the other inhabited world in their home system, Zardon, for over a thousand years.

Salusia needed to expand, badly. Although Salusia was and is a rich and fertile world, Salusian religion(2) prevented the development of its resources to their fullest potential. More urgently, their world was vulnerable to the Zardons, who could raid or bombard at will without the constant vigilance of the then-tiny Salusian fleet. Secure bases were required to expand the population, build weapons, and assemble decisive forces beyond the Zardons' reach.

Thus, the Salusian diaspora did not begin for some decades, and when it did begin, it focused only on those planets that the survey ships noted as being exceptionally rich and inhabitable. Most of the 'prime real estate' in Rigel, Vega and Enigma Sectors(3) is Salusian controlled, dating back to this period. In all, some forty choice worlds were agressively colonized by Salusia during this period, ending with the First Great Kilrathi War.

There was no equivalent Zardon Diaspora during this period, because Zardon has always focused its attentions inward. The planet Zardon itself could be considered a planet under colonization(4), with its population confined to several incredibly dense population centers. When Zardon realized what Salusia was doing, the Salusian fleet had grown too strong in local space for Zardon to duplicate the effort; this is why most of the roughly thirty planets ever colonized by Zardon are out in the Outer Rim Territories. All Zardon colonies prior to the Civil War were military in nature, gaining civilian populations only as a secondary effect.

SECOND SALUSIAN DIASPORA - 1900 to 1998

The transformation of the Corellian-Salusian alliance into the United Galactica brought a period of unprecedented security which allowed Salusia to enter a second Diaspora period. Although the Zardons remained actively hostile, the balance of power was such that Salusia held the upper hand outside the home system itself, and Salusia took advantage of this period to extend its colonies into Centauri Sector and other places.

The diaspora was extended by the ascension of Garth to the Imperial Zardon throne, bringing on an unprecedented level of hostility and warfare with that power. Seeking new resources and allies, the Salusians and Zardons both stumbled across Earth in the last decades of the 20th century, and Salusia's diaspora ended when Earth officially made contact with and joined the United Galactica.

EARTH DIASPORA - 2005 to 2099

It took Earth a few years to incorporate galactic technology, economy, and culture shock into itself and settle itself down, but once it did it exploded onto the galactic scene. Earth colonists proved almost unique among other races, in that they would often choose worlds, of their own free will, which no other race would consider settling on(5). No matter how worthless a rock, you could find some human group who would settle there in the hopes that it was good for something.

Furthermore, where most races had one, a dozen, or a few dozen cultures at most, Earth had -thousands- of cultures and subcultures, many of whom wanted a place to be themselves- preferably without the presence of anyone wanting to be someone else. Political, religious, and ethnic colonies abounded, to the point where one-third of all Earth colonies have the word 'New' in their name in some form or fashion.

The wars of mid-century extended Earth humans' efforts to get offworld. The great exodus continued until, when the Sixth Great Kilrathi War began in 2098, there were over 150 worlds colonized by Earthers, with populations as low as a few hundred to as high as millions. Earth's population dropped by two billion during that decade from the sheer volume of emigrants. In a single century Earth had surpassed all the other races, including the Salusians, in number of worlds colonized; by 2300 it had surpassed them all in offworld population as well. Earth humans, as of 2400, make up 30% of the Federation's total population, with over 300 planets colonized.(6)

Despite this, Earth has not been a major political figure in the Galactica or Federation until recently. During the Galactica years, Earth could barely maintain a united world government, and it made no effort to impose any sovereignty over its colony worlds (unlike most other homeworlds). Only since the Corporate Wars, with the rise of the Earth Alliance as a strong political force, have Earth colonies voted reliably in bloc on most issues. With the gradual unification of Earth's many splinter cultures, it appears that Earth has become the great power to watch in the Federation... until the next diaspora, of course.

Editorial Note: Rumors that this article was cribbed verbatim from a fifth grader's social studies term project are entirely unfounded. The case was dismissed for lack of evidence. Anyway, even if it was, you can't prove anything, so nyah.

Footnotes

(1) Of the three, the Orlean Drive Yards went under in the eleventh century, the Kuat Drive Yards were bought out by GENOM in 2108, and Corellian Engineering Corporation moved operations to Earth in 2403.

(2) The bulk of Salusian religion is Gaianist in tone, revering a great planetary web of life which, put together, forms a greater being. As such, the Salusians have worked from the earliest days to keep the strains of technology and population on their ecosystem to an absolute minimum, preserving vast reaches of their world from development.

(3) Well, such prime real estate as -exists- in Enigma Sector, and even then the Salusians missed some real prizes there.

(4) And, many would say, in dire need of terraforming.

(5) Or, for that matter, no other race would consider settling -possible.- See entries on Fenris, Niflheim, and Barrayar.

(6) Although only 30 or so are controlled by the Earth Alliance(7), about half the remainder retain close political ties to the mother planet. The -other- half, however, tend to distance themselves as much as possible.

(7) 30, it must be added, of the 50 wealthiest and most populous. A quarter of all Earth-descended humans are currently under the Earth Alliance government directly.

Redneck (as always, only as official as Gryphon says it is or isn't)

<snip>

>
>Furthermore, where most races had one, a dozen, or a few dozen
>cultures at most, Earth had -thousands- of cultures and subcultures,
>many of whom wanted a place to be themselves- preferably without the
>presence of anyone wanting to be someone else. Political, religious,
>and ethnic colonies abounded, to the point where one-third of all
>Earth colonies have the word 'New' in their name in some form or
>fashion.
>
>

Makes me wonder if there is a planet called Otaku's World or Otaku Colony. ^_^

This reminds me somewhat of the Niven/Pournelle "Mercenary"/"Mote" future history, with the important exception that, in that series, much, if not most, of the early colonization was involuntary - undertaken by transportees forcibly expelled by the Earth government of the time (the CoDominium). Here, the colonzation was voluntary.

For all that, though, I remember, off the top of my head, only four human-settled worlds in UF that are dominated by a single national culture; Niogi (German) and New Japan, New Hokkaido and Tomodachi (all Japanese). New Avalon, obviously, is dominated by no single ethnic group.

-Joe-

Um, are you refering to the books by Lois McMaster Bujold
when mentioning Barrayar? If so, shouldn't be refrence be Beta
Colony? If I'm wrong I apologize for the incorect assumption.

-Druid