Bajoran history

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

Bajoran history is one of the most far reaching in the galaxy, stretching back thousands of years. The Prophets influenced much of Bajor's history after their Orbs were found by the Bajorans, who began to worship them as gods.

The most well known period of Bajoran history is the Occupation which lasted from the early years of the 24th century to 2369.

[edit] Early history

Bajoran civilization stretches back more than half a million years, which is long before Humans learned to speak or make tools. The ancient Bajorans were renowned for their accomplishments in science, mathematics, philosophy, and the arts. The greatest of these early Bajoran civilizations was the First Republic, which flourished between 25,000 and 20,000 years ago. During this time, magnificent cities such as B'hala were built.

The next great phase of Bajoran civilization began approximately 10,000 years ago, when the first of the Tears of the Prophets were discovered above Bajor. These artifacts ushered in a new era of spiritual connection with the Bajoran gods, the Prophets. By the 16th century, the Bajorans had developed sublight space travel and were exploring their home star system with solar-sail spacecraft. Some Bajoran explorers even reached the Cardassian system, several light years away. (TNG: "Ensign Ro"; DS9: "Rapture", "Emissary", "Explorers")

Prior to the Occupation, Bajoran society followed a strict caste structure.

In the 22nd century, Akorem Laan departed Bajor in a lightship. His vessel was damaged in an ion storm, and drifted into the Denorios Belt, where he opened and entered the Bajoran wormhole and met with the Prophets. (DS9: "Accession")

In the 24th century, this period came to an end with the annexation of Bajor by Cardassia. (TNG: "Ensign Ro")

[edit] The Occupation

Main Article: Occupation of Bajor

The Occupation of Bajor (usually simply referred to as the Occupation) was the period from 2319 to 2369 during which the Bajoran homeworld of Bajor was under the control of the Cardassian Union. During the Occupation, the Cardassians perpetrated a coordinated scheme of strip-mining, forced labor, and genocide across the planet. The Occupation gave rise to the fierce Bajoran Resistance, which used guerrilla and terror tactics to eventually force the Cardassians to withdraw. Many Bajorans also fled the occupation and settled on planets all over the known galaxy, but almost everywhere they remained separated from other peoples, living under the poorest circumstances in refugee camps like those on Valo II. (TNG: "Ensign Ro")

[edit] Independent Bajor

In 2369 the Cardassians finally withdrew, no longer willing to stand against the relentless terrorism of the Bajoran Resistance. The Bajorans established a provisional government and abandoned the pre-Occupation caste system. The United Federation of Planets and Bajoran military established joint control of Terok Nor, a mining space station, which they renamed Deep Space 9. Bajor applied for membership in the Federation in 2373, but retracted their application at the last moment because their Emissary told them this would be disastrous for Bajor. Nevertheless, the two governments maintained a cordial relationship.

Prior to the beginning of the Dominion War, Bajor signed a nonaggression pact with the Dominion, choosing to remain neutral. This saved Bajor from coming under the rule of another foreign power when the Dominion captured Deep Space 9 in late 2373. Bajor finally joined the fight against the Dominion in 2374 after the Allies recaptured Deep Space 9 in the Operation Return. The Bajorans continued to fight against the Dominion until 2375, when the Treaty of Bajor was signed on Deep Space 9 in 2375. Following the war, Bajor resumed its attempt to become a member of the United Federation of Planets. (DS9: "Emissary", "Rapture", "Call to Arms", "Favor the Bold", "Sacrifice of Angels", "What You Leave Behind")