Mankind

From Lexicanum

Mankind refers to the human race. The majority of mankind are citizens of the Imperium of Man, governed by the High Lords of Terra in name of the Emperor of Mankind.

The human race hails from Terra (Earth). Evolving from a primitive stage to a relatively advanced civilization in the pass of a few thousand years, they began to colonize space. During the millennia that followed, they expanded across the galaxy, populating worlds and prospering in many different cultures until the Age of Strife, during which humankind was immersed in civil wars, alien attacks and warp storms. At the end of the Age of Strife, when the warp disturbances subsided, the Great Crusade began, a period of rebuilding and reunification, in which the Emperor unified thousands of human worlds into the Imperium.

Race Characteristics

Humans are one of the most numerous and widespread of the intelligent species in the galaxy; only the Orks and perhaps the Tyranids outnumber them. However, compared to the other intelligent races of the galaxy, they are not exceptional warriors or survivors - in fact, humans are vulnerable to all manner dangers, from moral and psychic to physical; a normal human, without weapons and armour, is no match for an Ork, a Tyranid, a Necron, or an Eldar.

Surprisingly, even though not being an enhanced genetic creation of the Old Ones, humankind has not only survived for tens of thousands of years from every enemy it has faced, it has become the galaxy's dominant race. With appropriate education, faith and indoctrination, humans can fight facing certain death, holding the line against anything, from hordes of aliens to the horrors of the warp. Of course, in the process, a human can be mortally wounded physically and/or psychologically.

Physiology

Human inhabitants have been dispersed throughout the galaxy, over the millenia adapting to suit the conditions of their new home worlds. Some conditions are so extreme they have created new human subspecies. For example, an Ogryn is a human subspecies adapted to survive on extremely barren and cold planets with higher gravity than normal, developing into massive and powerful creatures suited to simple survival in environments where food is scarce and long periods of starvation is common. While the Ogryns are the largest human subspecies, Ratlings are the smallest. Ratlings have adapted to worlds which are the opposite of those of the Ogryns, soporific worlds where sources food are abundant. Other human subspecies include Beastmen and Squats. Most of humanity however have remained largely similar to their distant ancestors.

Within humanity there are individuals born with psychic powers. These psykers are in constant danger of daemonic possession, and because of this present a great danger to the rest of the society. Unsurprisingly fear, hatred and suppression of psykers is commonplace throughout the Imperium.

Culture

While the Imperium is a unified entity, the different planets of the empire have their own ways of life and culture. These cultures after thousands of year of divergence and isolation show incredible diversity.