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'''Humans''' (Homo sapiens) are one of the primary races in the [[galaxy]], and the one from whose point of view the vast majority of the background is written. In [[M41]] the majority of humans are part of the [[Imperium of Man]], although other human civilisations are known to exist.

Originally little more than tree-beasts, humans originated from the planet [[Terra]] and while one with their ecosystem had no greater role defined for them by the [[Old Ones]], an ancient and powerful race that ruled the [[Galaxy]] in its infancy. However, following the destruction of the Old Ones in the [[War in Heaven (Necron)|War in Heaven]], humans went on to develop in unforeseen and uncontrolled ways as raw uncontrolled evolution took hold.{{Fn|7}} Eventually humans went on to colonize the galaxy during the [[Dark Age of Technology]]. Almost nothing is known about human civilisation in this time, having been lost in the chaos of the [[Age of Strife]]. Most of Humanity's shattered colonies were reunified by the [[Emperor]] during the [[Great Crusade]], becoming the early Imperium.{{citethis}}

*The [[Age of the Imperium]]: [[M30]] to the present setting, [[M41]].{{Fn|4}}

[[Image:Human Skeleton Diagram 73.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Human skeleton diagram{{Fn|22}}]]

Humans are one of the most prodigious races of the galaxy and are known for their ability to colonize almost any world as well as easily reproduce, unlike the likes of the [[Eldar]] who lived on carefully cultivated worlds and are slow to multiply.{{Fn|12}}{{Fn|19}} Compared to older races such as the Eldar and [[Necron]]s, Humans are short-lived, living only a few decades naturally.{{Fn|9}} [[Kin]] consider the average Human lifespan in [[M42]] to be around 53 years.{{Fn|18}} However Humans possess [[Juvenat]] medical treatments which can extend that lifespan to several centuries for those with the status and wealth.{{Fn|10}} Meanwhile, those blessed with the genetic augmentation of the [[Adeptus Astartes]] or [[Adeptus Custodes]] can live even far beyond this.{{Fn|20}}{{Fn|21}}

While less overtly physically advanced than the likes of the [[Eldar]], the Humans are still considered a psychic race and have relatively large levels of [[Psyker]] prevalence in their society.{{Fn|15}} Other races view this as dangerous given their weakness before [[Chaos]], and groups such as the [[Cabal]] have formed in the past to attempt to meddle in Human affairs to prevent them from inadvertently allowing the Primordial Annihilator to consume the galaxy.{{Fn|14}} However other Eldar, such as [[Eldrad Ulthran]], believe humanity may one day inherit their mantle and be a valuable ally against Chaos.{{Fn|16}}

The human body has 206 bones. This coincides with the [[Catechism of Sacred Form]]'s 206 stanzas.{{Fn|22}} The skull is the [[cogitator]] of the human body. It is made up of 22 bones, 14 of which make up the face. The Ribcage is made up of 24 ribs, containing vital organs that can be thought of as the processors of the body.

{{main|Imperium}}

The majority of humans exist within the Imperium of Mankind. The [[Imperial Cult]] preaches that humanity has a Manifest Destiny to conquer the entire galaxy, to the point where [[Xenos|alien]] species are seen as inferior and many believe are worthy of nothing but extinction.

{{main|The Lost and the Damned}}

The next greatest concentration of humans exist as the Lost and the Damned, and reside primarily, though not exclusively, in the [[Eye of Terror]]. Not a coherent civilisation as such, they exist as part of a diverse and infinite collection of warbands and hosts under the leadership of [[Champion of Chaos|Chaos Champions]]. Due to the nature of the [[Warp]], some of these humans are the original Imperial subjects who sided with the [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] during the [[Horus Heresy]], though their number has been greatly supplemented by more recent humans who have turned to [[Chaos]], or slaves captured as part of the many raids out of the Eye.

{{main|Gue'vesa Auxiliaries}}

Less xenophobic than the Imperium, the [[Tau]] Empire has no qualms in letting other races join it. Whilst few in number, some humans have done so and exist within the Empire where they are known as [[Gue'vesa Auxiliaries|Gue'vesa]].{{Fn|1}} These humans for the most part are descendants of [[Imperial Guard]] troops who were abandoned in Tau space during the [[Damocles Crusade]], however it is not unheard of for Imperial planets to want to secede from the Imperium to join the Tau Empire.{{Fn|2}}

Other human civilisations are extremely rare. This is mostly due to the fact that the Imperium considers itself to have an automatic right to rule all of humanity, and ruthlessly suppresses any attempt to secede from it. Similarly, any lost colonies that are rediscovered from the Dark Age of Technology are also incorporated into the Imperium whether they want to be or not. Despite this, a few independent human civilisations have been known to exist, such as the [[Interex]], [[Diasporex]], [[Auretian Technocracy]], [[Gordian League]], [[Adrantis Five]], [[Prophets of Fury]], and the [[Krull]].

When the Age of Strife descended on the galaxy, the majority of human colonies were cut off from Terra and forced to survive on their own. In some cases this meant that they devolved into considerably more primitive societies as the knowledge to create and maintain technology was lost. The [[Great Crusade]] reunited many thousands of lost colonies back into the Imperium, yet every now and then changes in the warp mean that new colonies are discovered. Whilst nobody can know for sure how many, there are almost certainly more colonies still cut off from the rest of humanity, waiting to be discovered.

The Imperium keeps a tight grip over its planets, yet every now and then planets or groups of planets do attempt to secede from the Imperium. This may be the result of the [[Planetary Governor]] believing he can get away with independence, or it may be the result of revolution that deposes those in power. Many of these successions are orchestrated by the powers of [[Chaos]], and the humans that are part of it should be counted as the Lost and the Damned, however there are also occasions when a planet decides it wants to be independent of the Imperium through its own volition, such as the case of the [[Severan Dominate]], or the [[Kingdom of Vanir]]. Regardless of the cause, these independent realms rarely last long as they are swiftly and brutally subjugated back into the Imperium.

*{{Main|Pirate}}

The only independent civilisation with any real sustainability, some humans evade the Imperium's clutches and live outside of its reach in bands of ships existing through raids and piracy. Often allying themselves with [[Eldar]] or other Xenos, these humans are swiftly put down if they are caught by Imperial authorities.{{Fn|3}}

*{{main|Abhuman}}

Throughout the long history of the Imperium and before, the human race has mutated into a variety of stable species, known as abhumans. Abhumans are tolerated to a varying degree within the Imperium due to the fact that they are seen as being close enough to humans to be accepted. Not all Abhumans are part of the Imperium, as evidenced by the [[Kin|Squats]] of the [[Leagues of Votann]].{{Fn|8}}

*[[Caryatid]]

*[[New Men]]

{{Cite}}

*{{Endn|1}}: [http://web.archive.org/web/20080420071331/http://uk.games-workshop.com/tau/tau-auxiliaries/ Tau Human Auxiliaries (Archive of old GWUK website)] by [[Andy Hoare]] ''(accessed 2009.09.19)''