Human (Babylon 5)
Encyclopedia
Humans are one of the many races in the fictional Babylon 5
universe. They appear in all seasons of Babylon 5
, and all of its spinoffs. Their homeworld is Earth, from which the interstellar Earth Alliance
is governed. Humans are considered one of the younger races in the galaxy, but their government, the Earth Alliance, is currently a Galactic Superpower
.
of today, the 23rd-Century Earth has blue skies, large oceans, and seven continents as well as numerous islands of various sizes. Earth's population in the Babylon 5 universe is approximately 9 billion.
In addition to Earth, humans have colonized 23 other planets by the opening of the Babylon 5 space station, together forming the Earth Alliance
. Other major planets that humans have colonized are Mars, Orion 7, and Proxima 3.
") and other First Ones. Prior to the Telepath War
, all telepaths were required by law to be members of Psi Corps
.
Throughout the series, humans are characterised by their adaptability, their willingness to form communities with other (i.e. alien) species, and their stubbornness in the face of opposition, even overwhelming odds. Although some other alien species, such as the Narn
and Minbari
, are physically stronger and tougher than humans, the ability of humans to adapt to diverse environments has given them an edge over many other species. For example, humans can survive in high-temperature climates that would kill a Minbari, and they can survive in cold-temperature environments that would kill a Drazi.
A link between human and Minbari
souls is discovered early in the series which explains why the Minbari surrendered in the Earth-Minbari War
.
In the final episode of Season Four, which takes place one million years in the future, humans have achieved First One
status. (The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
) Humans, now evolved into energy beings, have left Earth for the last time, and are capable of assuming physical form. Their appearance is most akin to the effect seen for the First One Lorien
.
, founded in 2085, is the government of Earth and its colonies. Earthgov
, the name of the government, is located in Geneva
, Switzerland
. The Earth Alliance is a representative democracy
. Earthgov is regulated by the Earth Alliance Constitution, and it is apparently modeled after the United States government and the British government. The Chief Executive of Earthgov is the president; the legislative body is called the Earth Senate, which was temporarily dissolved when President Clark declared Martial Law
. There is also an Earthgov Supreme Court
. The Earth Alliance was created by several of the Earth's leading nations to colonize Mars. Although the Babylon 5 universe shows the Earth as being united under a single government, separate nation-states still exist (such as when the Interstellar News Network reports that Indonesia
's government is complaining about not receiving its fair share of money from Earthgov). To defend the Earth and her colonies, the Earth Alliance maintains a large and powerful military organization called EarthForce. EarthForce is under the authority of the president and is managed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Normally EarthForce personnel are volunteers who decide to join the service. However, in times of war, such as during the Earth-Minbari War
, a planetary draft
can be held to recruit military personnel for EarthForce.
, Judaism
, Islam
, and others are depicted on episodes of the series; most notably, an order of Dominican
friar
s set up a mission on the station, Commander Susan Ivanova
is an occasionally practicing Jew
, and Michael Garibaldi
,raised catholic, is an agnostic. Additionally, several new human religions have been created in the Babylon 5 future. Among the most-discussed is "Foundationism
," as one of Babylon 5's main characters, Dr. Steven Franklin, is a follower of this religion.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
universe. They appear in all seasons of Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, and all of its spinoffs. Their homeworld is Earth, from which the interstellar Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
is governed. Humans are considered one of the younger races in the galaxy, but their government, the Earth Alliance, is currently a Galactic Superpower
Superpower
A superpower is a state with a dominant position in the international system which has the ability to influence events and its own interests and project power on a worldwide scale to protect those interests...
.
Homeworld
Earth is the homeworld of the Human race. The Babylon 5 series is set in the 23rd Century, and like the EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
of today, the 23rd-Century Earth has blue skies, large oceans, and seven continents as well as numerous islands of various sizes. Earth's population in the Babylon 5 universe is approximately 9 billion.
In addition to Earth, humans have colonized 23 other planets by the opening of the Babylon 5 space station, together forming the Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
. Other major planets that humans have colonized are Mars, Orion 7, and Proxima 3.
Biological
Humans in Babylon 5 are identical to humans of today, with one major difference: telepathic abilities appeared in humans around 2160 and exist in around 1 in 1,000 individuals. No verifiable telepaths were known before this time, and their sudden appearance may have been caused by interference at the genetic level by the Vorlons. About 1 in 10,000 human telepaths also have telekinetic abilities as well, though more than half of such individuals are also insane. No mention is made in the series of the frequency of occurrence or links to mental instability of telekinesis in other species, although it or a similar ability is demonstrated by the Vorlons ("Interludes and ExaminationsInterludes and Examinations
Interludes and Examinations is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Dr. Franklin confronts his addiction to stims....
") and other First Ones. Prior to the Telepath War
Telepath War
The Telepath War is a conflict in the fictional Babylon 5 universe. This conflict occurs a few years after the events of the television series, and before the events of the Crusade television series...
, all telepaths were required by law to be members of Psi Corps
Psi Corps
In the fictional universe of Babylon 5, the Psi Corps is an agency of the Earth Alliance responsible for all humans with telepathic or other para-psychological abilities anywhere within Earth controlled space. All persons with Psi abilities are required to either join the Corps, face lifetime...
.
Throughout the series, humans are characterised by their adaptability, their willingness to form communities with other (i.e. alien) species, and their stubbornness in the face of opposition, even overwhelming odds. Although some other alien species, such as the Narn
Narn
The Narn are a fictional alien race in the universe of the Babylon 5 television series. Their homeworld is also called Narn.-Homeworld:Narn is the homeworld of the Narn and the Narn Regime. Its day is 31 hours long. Prior to the Centauri's first invasion, Narn was a healthy green planet. Now it...
and Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
, are physically stronger and tougher than humans, the ability of humans to adapt to diverse environments has given them an edge over many other species. For example, humans can survive in high-temperature climates that would kill a Minbari, and they can survive in cold-temperature environments that would kill a Drazi.
A link between human and Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
souls is discovered early in the series which explains why the Minbari surrendered in the Earth-Minbari War
Earth-Minbari War
The Earth–Minbari War is a fictional war that formed a major part of the back story of the science fiction television series, Babylon 5. The war was fought between the Earth Alliance and the Minbari, an older alien race that overwhelmingly outmatched Earth in terms of technology and weapons...
.
First Ones
The First Ones is the collective name of a group of aliens from the television science fiction drama Babylon 5.-Overview:The First Ones are the ancient alien races of the galaxy, the first organisms to achieve sentience and the first to become spacefaring. Of these races, Lorien's was the first,...
status. (The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
"The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" is the final episode of the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. This was the final episode of Babylon 5 to air on PTEN.-Synopsis:...
) Humans, now evolved into energy beings, have left Earth for the last time, and are capable of assuming physical form. Their appearance is most akin to the effect seen for the First One Lorien
Lorien (Babylon 5)
Lorien is a fictional character from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. He appears at the start of season four and again in the last episode of the show. Lórien is also a name given to one of the Valar, god-like beings in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, of whom series...
.
Government and Military
The Earth AllianceEarth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
, founded in 2085, is the government of Earth and its colonies. Earthgov
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
, the name of the government, is located in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The Earth Alliance is a representative democracy
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
. Earthgov is regulated by the Earth Alliance Constitution, and it is apparently modeled after the United States government and the British government. The Chief Executive of Earthgov is the president; the legislative body is called the Earth Senate, which was temporarily dissolved when President Clark declared Martial Law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
. There is also an Earthgov Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
. The Earth Alliance was created by several of the Earth's leading nations to colonize Mars. Although the Babylon 5 universe shows the Earth as being united under a single government, separate nation-states still exist (such as when the Interstellar News Network reports that Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
's government is complaining about not receiving its fair share of money from Earthgov). To defend the Earth and her colonies, the Earth Alliance maintains a large and powerful military organization called EarthForce. EarthForce is under the authority of the president and is managed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Normally EarthForce personnel are volunteers who decide to join the service. However, in times of war, such as during the Earth-Minbari War
Earth-Minbari War
The Earth–Minbari War is a fictional war that formed a major part of the back story of the science fiction television series, Babylon 5. The war was fought between the Earth Alliance and the Minbari, an older alien race that overwhelmingly outmatched Earth in terms of technology and weapons...
, a planetary draft
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
can be held to recruit military personnel for EarthForce.
Religion
One of the features of humanity that the show does highlight, and to some degree contrast with the alien civilizations (with the possible exception of the Narn who are also noted as having an extensive selection of religious beliefs), is the existence of a large number of religions, none of which can claim to be the dominant belief system. Many of the human religions depicted in the Babylon 5 universe are the same ones which exist today: ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and others are depicted on episodes of the series; most notably, an order of Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s set up a mission on the station, Commander Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
is an occasionally practicing Jew
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, and Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
,raised catholic, is an agnostic. Additionally, several new human religions have been created in the Babylon 5 future. Among the most-discussed is "Foundationism
Foundationism
Foundationism as presented in the science fiction television series Babylon 5 is an Earth religion, one of several that appeared around the time the Centauri made first contact with the Earth Alliance in 2156.-Beliefs and practices:...
," as one of Babylon 5's main characters, Dr. Steven Franklin, is a follower of this religion.