Great Manifest Period

"The Republic's Great Manifest period (20,000–17,000 BBY) marked an increased movement into the Rimward territories of the Slice, which became known as the Expansion Region."

- From the text of The New Essential Chronology by Voren Na'al

The Great Manifest Period of the Galactic Republic lasted from 20,000 BBY to 17,000 BBY. It was characterized by increased movement into the Slice and the establishment of the Expansion Region in its Rimward territories. The era and its corresponding boom were brought to an end by internal strife in the form of the First Alsakan Conflict.

Proem
Following the creation of the Galactic Republic, the Expansionist Era featured steady but limited growth to Republic space. Most of the known galactic community was confined to the Core Worlds and other planets that lined the existing hyperspace routes of the Perlemian Trade Route and the early legs of the Corellian Run. Outside of Republic space, however, interstellar alliances such as Hutt Space, the Herglic Trade Empire, and the Tion Cluster existed along with numerous yet-unknown, but inhabited, worlds.

As the years passed, the Republic continued to expand. Exploration into the regions colloquially known as "Wild Space" and blazing new hyperspace routes were regarded as dangerous endeavors. The dangers notwithstanding, the Republic was expanding into the area of space that later became known as "the Slice." By one hundred years before the Great Manifest Period began, many worlds in the Inner Rim and Colonies had been settled. Additionally, some cultures had begun Rimward migration during this time. Among them, the Etti had fled the Core Worlds as a reaction to persecution at the hands of the Republic's "oppressive" and "tyrannical" government. These people had terraformed the planet Etti IV and relocated outside of the Republic boundaries&mdash;and Coruscant's bureaucracy.

Commerce and politics
The Great Manifest Period of the Galactic Republic began in 20,000 BBY. Planets such as Alsakan, Corellia, and Coruscant continued the trend of expansion and settlement deeper into "the Slice," populating the Expansion Region. Corellia and Coruscant were able to stake claim to the choicest locations along hyperspace routes, however, prompting resentment to brood on Alsakan. Within the Slice proper, colonists and corporations from Alsakan and Coruscant aggressively competed for new systems in which to establish their hold.

About 20,000 BBY, the Core World planet Metellos was dealing with the domestic problems of overpopulation and a lack of trade. The planetary government commissioned a new hyperspace route to connect eastward Coruscant with the hope of easing its struggle. Additionally, it was hoped that the a new hyperspace route would extend west of the Core in a manner analogous to the super-routes of the Perlemian Trade Route and the Corellian Run. When the route reached its completion, the new Metellos Trade Route connected eastward to Coruscant as desired, but the trail only extended westward to Orooturoo due to anomalous eddies within hyperspace west of the Core.

As the Republic burgeoned, so did its bureaucracy. With the growth of Republic space, new sectors were created and gained representation in the Galactic Senate. Existing sectors also grew, in spite of the "Rule of Fifty"&mdash;a Republic law designed to limit the number of star systems in a sector at fifty. As the growth of the Great Manifest Period continued, the rule was largely ignored and some sectors became so large that they were rendered ungovernable.

The expansion of the Republic and the hyperspace travel and commerce among its member worlds also prompted the creation of the Bureau of Ships and Services (BoSS). The organization was designed to track movement of ships and goods through space, along with assigning transponder codes and tracking vessel ownership. It was said to have been created more than one thousand years prior to the end of the Great Manifest Period, although it has also been remarked that the Bureau was created slightly later.

Culture
The early years of the Great Manifest Period marked the end of the religion Vianism within the Core Worlds. Vianism was an ancient belief system that originated in the Core Worlds and centered on worship of the goddess Via and her two likeness: Beatific Countenance and the Glorious Radiance. Even though the religion died out in the Core, it was retained among the ancestors to the Argazdan civilization and revived within the Kanz sector.

On the Core World of Shawken, the super-tall structure known as the Shawken Spire had reached low-orbit altitudes. Made from ancient building materials since its foundations over seven hundred years prior to the formation of the Republic, the structure grown in renown across the known galaxy. In 18,780 BBY, the iconic edifice met its destruction.

Jedi affairs
About the time the Great Manifest Period began, a Human male known as Roni von Wasaki was born. He later became Jedi Knight who helped to maintain peace and stability in frontier sectors of the growing Republic. His influence caused many local crime lords to mark him with a bounty. While he fended off many who pursued him, he eventually was captured by Leshy Drobo and XT-8 and frozen in carbonite. He remained trapped for twenty thousand years.

Prior to the year 19,000 BBY, a Jedi named Humat became insane and left the Jedi Order. Upon dropping out of the Order, he fled with his most valuable treasures to Coruscant. There, Humat buried his belongings in a deep underground vault that became known as the Cell of Imu. Within the locale were numerous types of technology that were protected by traps and skeletons animated by use of dark side of the Force magic. The centerpiece of his collection was a talisman simply known as the soul stealer.

Outside of Republic space
During the early years of the Great Manifest Period, two planets outside of Republic space underwent significant climatic changes. Around 19,997 BBY,in the Tapani sector, the ice caps of the planet Neona began to melt and flood the surface. As the surfaced became submerged, the sentient Neonan species became extinct. At the time, the worlds of the Tapani sector were unknown to the broader Republic.

Similarly, the Wild Space planet of Kamino began a climate shift around 19,000 BBY. There, the surface ice of the planet's glaciers began to melt. The low-lying marsh areas and narrow oceans began to flood, forcing the native Kaminoans from their native homelands. Over time, the land area became completely submerged. As with Neona, the event took place on a world that had yet to have been discovered by the Republic.

Impact

 * Alsakan Conflicts and desolation of Slice near Perlemian
 * BoSS, and its unique culture
 * Continuation of Vianism in Kanz sector
 * Shawken Spire and Twenty Wonders
 * Adaptation of Kaminoans

Timeline of the Great Manifest Period

 * c. 20,000 BBY
 * The Galactic Republic's Great Manifest Period begins.
 * The Metellos Trade Route was created by the Metellos, resulting in minor trade with Coruscant, but significantly greater trade with Orooturoo.


 * Ancient Jedi Knight Roni von Wasaki was born.


 * after 20,000 BBY
 * Vianism dies out in the Core Worlds, but remains in the Kanz sector


 * c. 19,997 BBY
 * Neona underwent a dramatic climate change that caused the surface to become submerged underwater.
 * The sentient Neonan species was driven to extinction as a result of the climate change.


 * before 19,000 BBY
 * An insane Jedi named Humat left the Order, fleeing with his treasures to Coruscant. He buried them deep underground in a vault that became known as the Cell of Imu.


 * c. 19,000 BBY
 * Kamino's glaciers began to melt due to climate change.


 * 18,780 BBY
 * The Shawken Spire, a super-tall structure on Shawken that reached low-orbit altitude, was destroyed.


 * by 18,000 BBY
 * Bureau of Ships and Services was created, although possibly a little bit later.
 * c. 17,000 BBY
 * The Alsakan Conflicts mark the end of the Great Manifest Period and the beginning of the Indecta Era.

Notes and references
Gran Periodo Manifiesto