The Scattering
The Scattering is an event that features in Dune.
Contents |
History
The Scattering was an event that affected the universe when the 3,500 year reign of God Emperor Leto II came to an end with his death leading to humanity being thrown into chaos. The breakdown of Leto's empire, severe famine on many worlds and the introduction of Ixian navigation machines causes billions of people to leave the settled worlds, striking off into unknown space. This resettlement is one of the goals of Leto's Golden Path, a plan for the survival of humanity. The exponential growth in human numbers and colonized planets, combined with the dissemination of Siona Atreides' genes which render their bearer invisible to prescience, ensures humanity's survival by making it impossible for any one force to track down every human in the universe — at least some would survive somewhere.
The entire purpose of "Leto's Golden Path" was to force the human race to abandon certainty, security, and safety as individual goals and to "scatter" not only geographically, but also to do so technologically, ideologically, and socio-politically.
As a result of this philosophy, during the reign of Leto II humanity was predominantly planet bound and ruled by an iron fist for more than 3500 years. This was in contrast to the relative freedom of expression and movement people enjoyed to a limited degree under the Faufreluches, the limits being predominantly the inherent control of feudal rule and the Spacing Guild monopoly on space travel. Indeed, Leto II exerted a level of control that was unprecedented in the Imperium, including power over the Guild and space travel, a feat that previous Emperors had been unable to accomplish. Upon Leto's death, the stalwart and long-established order of the Imperium disintegrated, as did control over freedoms and movement, and as a result, humanity rediscovered independence and nobilities on an unprecedented scale. This paved the way for humanity to "scatter" across the universe into the unknown and further evolution of the human race.
According to Leto II's plan, his death was followed by a collapse of political control and Spice supplies - as it would take generations for the Spice cycle to reassert itself on Rakis. Political order collapsed and entire worlds starved to death, in a chaotic period known as the Famine Times. The Scattering was an immediate response to the Famine Times, as refugees fled the anarchy consuming the Old Imperium.
Later on, the descendants and 'creations' of these Lost Ones have begun to return to the Old Empire which included the fierce Honored Matres and a new breed of Bene Tleilaxu. These so-called Lost Tleilaxu are at odds with their forebears, and soon ally with the Honored Matres to obliterate nearly all Tleilaxu planets. It was ultimately revealed that the Lost Tleilaxu leadership has been infiltrated and overtaken by the newest incarnation of Face Dancers, who have secretly gained control of many similar power bases across the Old Empire. Finally, it is established that the force behind this plot against humanity is in fact mankind's ancient enemy, the thinking machines.
During The Scattering, many people remained within the boundaries of the Old Imperium. Many, however, did not. Countless humans departed the Old Imperium for uncharted space, never to return. For 1,500 years, humanity explored the uncharted realms of the universe beyond the boundaries of the Old Imperium. New groups and cultures evolved.
During the Scattering, vast waves of refugees spread outwards into uncharted space, so that the number of human-colonized worlds exponentially ballooned both in number and spread. The Bene Gesserit who remained in the territories of the Old Imperium could only make vague guesses at the size of "Scattering space", as it was theoretically infinite and even the Honored Matres might not know its full extent. One clue is that the Lost Ones returning from the Scattering refer to the Old Imperium as "the million worlds" or "the million planets" - implying that Scattering space is at least several multiples larger than that.
Overview
Participants
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Notes
- The Scattering was created by Frank Herbert where it featured in the setting of the Dune universe.
Appearances
- God Emperor of Dune:
- Heretics of Dune:
- Chapterhouse: Dune:
External Link
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