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Culture and Society... The Republic Senate was entrusted with the incredible task of governing the galaxy. One of it's main tasks was to establish universal law while maintaining the peace among it's many alien and human cultures. The Republic standardized trade and leagal codes, while allowing each planet and people to maintain their original cultures, customs, and laws, languages, and governments. Even under the Empire, local cultures and governments often remained intact as long as they swore alligeance to Palpatine. Those thjat dared to question the Imperial presence on their worlds faced forcful subjagation.
Under the New Republic, there is renewed emphasis on maintaining a universal law while still respecting native cultures and governments. Humans: Humans, particuarly those from Coruscant, Corellia, Alderaanian, and Chandrilan- have had a traditionally large impact on the Republic, Empire, and New Republic culture and politics. One of the more numorous species, there are dense human populations in the Core and human settlements can be found throughout the galaxy. Aliens: The number of known alien civilizations in the galaxy is staggering, Duros, Aqualish, Rodians, Wookies, Sullustans, Bothans...The list goes on and on. Amazingly, despite fundamentally different biological drives and perspectives- indeed, entirely differnt ways of understanding the universe- many aliens can completly interact with humans, speaking their languages, adapting to their cultures (and vice/versa), and generally just interacting with them. |
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Economy... The Known Galaxy's economy is perhaps the ultimate "economy of scale", with worlds with billions of inhabitants trading trillions of credits worth of goods each year. Some worlds (like Coruscant) are entirly dependent on goods brought to it's spaceports-buying everything the planet needs to support it's population and infastructure with tremendous wealth. Other worlds are completly self sustaining, either maintaining a global or sector economy. The galaxy has huge corporate conglomerates, smaller companies or industries, powerful guilds or professional organizations. Another contributing factor to the galactic economy is crime, altough officials make claims to the contrary. The Galactic Republic's economy was quite diversified with strong, industrial, transportation, communication, agriculture and medical indutries. Under Palpatine much of the economy was directed towards the military, and various war efforts and conquests. The New Republic, on the other hand was left to mend an galactic economy in shambles after years of warfare and destruction. In areas where the New Republic had to battle Imperial reniments, and places devastated by the fighting that occured in the Rebellion itself. With limited capital and the need to continue fighting the Empire on several fronts, there is a constant strain on the galactic economy, and the road to economic recovery has been long and hard. |
Timekeeping and the Calender... "Galactic standard" timekeeping measurments are derived from those which originated on Coruscant. While many planets mantain their own timekeeping methods based on their local planetary cycles, all official communications and records use galactic standard measures.
There are 60 standard seconds in a standard hour, 24 standard hours in a standard day, five standard days in a standard week and seven standard weeks in a standard month. A standard year is 368 standard days; ten standard months plus three fete weeks and three more holidays, all devoted to traditional celebrations, festivals, and observances. |
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Money... Credits is the standard term for monetary units. For thousands of years, Republic credits were the common currency of the galaxy.
During the Rule of the Empire Imperial credits became the only accepted form of currency. Imperial credits were issued in many denominations:0.1, 0.2, 0.5,1,2,5,10,20,50,100,200,500,1000,2000, and 5000 credits. These denomanations were derived from the Old Republic. After the fall of the Empire, the New Republic banned Imperial credits with a similar form of credit to that of the Old Republic's unit. Many planets, local governments, and corporations issue their own forms of credits, notes and "marks". These may or may not be accepted depending on where in the galaxy one is trying to use them. Under the New Republic government a strict effort has been made to create exchange rates for all of the galaxy's currencies. These currencies can be issued in any number of ways: coins, electronic cred sticks, encoded flimslit notes, or even metal slugs, beads or anything else that happens to be helpful to the user. Through the uncertain years of warfare before the rise and after the fall of the Empire, where the type of standard credits being used were uncertain, many relied on a "barters" system. |
Language... Intelligent species have developed a bewildering array of communication forms. Fortunatly, Basic, the standard language of the Old Republic, enables almost everyone to understand almost everyone else.
Basic, derived from the native tounge of Coruscant's humans, is designed to be easy to understand and pronounce. Most alien species can speak it, and almost all of them can understand it. It's the official language of the Empire and New Republic and most records and texts are stored in Basic. Nevertheless a varity of other languages are in use. It is'nt unusual for someone to speak several languages; Basic, a native tounge, a couple of regional dialects, and a smattering of trade languages. A well-traveled citizen may speak dozens of languages. |
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The Force... Knowledge of the Force and how to manipulate It is what gives the Jedi his power. An energy field generated by all living things, the Force permeates the galaxy. The Force has both a positive and a negative side: The Light and the Dark. While Jedi scientists were at a loss to explain what the Force is, long ago, the Jedi Knights learned how to feel the ebb and flow of the Force. They mastered its power, using It to accomplish deeds others would call "miraculous".
The Light Side represents peace, tranquility, peace, love, life itself. Power in the Light Side comes through meditation, thought and dicipline. The Light is called upon to defend others and do what is good... The Dark Side represents all that is evil; death, selfishness, greed, destruction and anger. The Dark Side isn't more powerful, but it is easier and quicker to master. Those who are quick to feel anger and hate or fear are prime targets for the Dark Side and it's seductions. At the height of the Republic, many people belived in the power of the Force, largely due to the beneficial actions of the Jedi Knights. The Empire waged an extensive campaign to exterminate the Jedi and stomp out belief in the Force. The campaign was largely successful (many in the Rebellion still belived in the Force and "May the Force be with You" became a popular rallying cry in the ranks of the Alliance). Most people spend their entire lives unaware of the Force's influence. Whether good, evil or neutral they are blind to the Force- although they may subconsciously use It's power, calling it luck, fate, destiny, religion or magic. Such beings can commit evil, yet not be seduced by the Dark Side, whilst they can do good and still not know the Path of Light and the Way of the Jedi. However, those who are "Force-sensitive" can feel the Force flowing through them and beings around them. A Force-sensitive person is more closley attuned to the Force than most people and is able to somehow sense the the mystic rhythms of the universe. While it give the individual many advantages, it also makes that person more susceptible to the corrupting influence of evil. |
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