Star Wars: Time Scale Issues

[OzzyKP]

I remember long ago reading some book saying that the Empire had been aroud for 80 years. I always assumed that was the real deal, and it made sense.

Now, with these prequel movies that perception is totally out of whack and it seems the Empire was only around for 20 years, or less. With maybe 15 years of transition time between Old Republic to Empire (ep 1-ep3).

So why am I pointing this out? Cause it makes the Empire really insignificant if you ask me, and doesn't match up with the reality as presented in episodes 4-6. One thousand years of a Republic and then an Empire comes in for 20 years. That's not an Empire, that's a hiccup.

The sense in the original series was that some point long ago was this Old Republic, and now for the last few generations there is this evil galactic empire that controls the galaxy and everyone is afraid of them. Up pops these rebels who start a low level insurgency against them.

In reality with a mere 20 year gap, the "rebels" would probably all be former leaders of the "old" republic who disagreed with the new course of Palpatine and have been working against him since the beginning.

Heck, even calling it the "Old Republic" makes it seem far longer ago than it really is. Most people grew up during the "old" republic and surely haven't forgotten of it within 20 years.

The Empire just seems a lot less impressive and a lot less intimidating when you realize it was only a 20 year hiccup after 1,000 years of Republic.

[Kuciwalker]

AFAIK it's always been around for 20 years.

[:) Smiley]

Time dilation?

[Drachasor]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
AFAIK it's always been around for 20 years.

True, but I must admit he does bring up a good point.

When you think about it, it does feel like a very, very short time period.

Perhaps it should have been at least 50 years or more.

-Drachasor

[chequita guevara]

When it's you whose living it, twenty years feels like a long time. A whole generation grew up knowing nothing but the Empire, so the Republic would be the Old Republic.

[Dinner]

I wish the new movies would talk about the Corporate Sector Authorty and the other areas outside of the Empire/Republic. Several of the Star Wars books written in the 1970's and early 80's spoke about them but in the movies they don't seem to exist.

[MrFun]

Re: Star Wars: Time Scale Issues

Originally posted by OzzyKP
I remember long ago reading some book saying that the Empire had been aroud for 80 years. I always assumed that was the real deal, and it made sense.

Now, with these prequel movies that perception is totally out of whack and it seems the Empire was only around for 20 years, or less. With maybe 15 years of transition time between Old Republic to Empire (ep 1-ep3).

So why am I pointing this out? Cause it makes the Empire really insignificant if you ask me, and doesn't match up with the reality as presented in episodes 4-6. One thousand years of a Republic and then an Empire comes in for 20 years. That's not an Empire, that's a hiccup.

The sense in the original series was that some point long ago was this Old Republic, and now for the last few generations there is this evil galactic empire that controls the galaxy and everyone is afraid of them. Up pops these rebels who start a low level insurgency against them.

In reality with a mere 20 year gap, the "rebels" would probably all be former leaders of the "old" republic who disagreed with the new course of Palpatine and have been working against him since the beginning.

Heck, even calling it the "Old Republic" makes it seem far longer ago than it really is. Most people grew up during the "old" republic and surely haven't forgotten of it within 20 years.

The Empire just seems a lot less impressive and a lot less intimidating when you realize it was only a 20 year hiccup after 1,000 years of Republic.

Who cares?

[Brent]

I believe the Thrawn trilogy said it was longer than 20 years, but I don't think it said as long as 80. And what ever happened to 1000 generations or 25000 years of the old Republic? Are there Hutts still living who remember the time before the Old Republic? Surely the long lived aliens can remember what they have supposedly forgotten about the Old Republic and the Jedi. Did the Dark Side alter their memories like it clouded the minds of the Jedi previously? I don't think 20 years would be that long for Yoda, Jabba, or other long lived aliens. With long lived aliens like Chewie, how could Han and those Imperials be so skeptical?

Lots of people care.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I wish the new movies would talk about the Corporate Sector Authorty and the other areas outside of the Empire/Republic. Several of the Star Wars books written in the 1970's and early 80's spoke about them but in the movies they don't seem to exist.

In AOTC you had the trade federation (more in depth in TPM), InterGalactic Banking Clan, Techno Union, and the Commerce Guild. Perhaps they will be expanded on just a bit in ROTS.

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
When it's you whose living it, twenty years feels like a long time. A whole generation grew up knowing nothing but the Empire, so the Republic would be the Old Republic.

Well I've grown up knowing nothing but the post-Reagan era, and certainly I've been influenced by it, but I don't consider the 70's to be ancient history. And there are a lot more people than 20-year-olds out there, both here and in Star Wars.

[Sprayber]

Perhaps its more of a matter that the Empire is much more intrusive into the day to day running of local planets than the Republic had been.

A better example may be the South following the Civil War. I'm sure those born in 1870 grew up in a much different south than their parents had. And those that were alive just ten years earlier would have seen an enormous difference.

[OzzyKP]

Even so, it would be difficult to really get their tendrils in the whole galaxy in a short period of time like that one would think. I imagine there would have been some initial resisance, so the Empire would have to not only assert and project its power all over the galaxy, but fight off/punish rebels the whole time.

Also, another thing that bothers me(not too much cause i'm not a total geek, but...) is spaceship design. According to reports from episode 3, there will be some proto-x-wings and proto-tie fighters revealed. The rebels, one assumed, were using outdated military hardware. The ships all looked beat up and old. So now we know those ships weren't even designed 20 years ago.

Plus military hardware doesn't change designs as quickly as commercial automobiles. Putting aside the fighters, I think it would be incredible for Star Destroyers and Super Star Destroyers to be conceived, designed, built, and massively deployed in a period of less than 20 years. Something that big just doesn't get cobbled together in a few months.

[Bkeela]

I don't see any problem. Look at the impact the Third Reich had in a very short space of time.

80 years isn't a vastly greater period than 20 years, in relation to a 1000 year old republic.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Sprayber
A better example may be the South following the Civil War.

Evil occupying force. Empire type tactics. The ability of self governance removed.

Good analogy.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Even so, it would be difficult to really get their tendrils in the whole galaxy in a short period of time like that one would think. I imagine there would have been some initial resisance, so the Empire would have to not only assert and project its power all over the galaxy, but fight off/punish rebels the whole time.

Also, another thing that bothers me(not too much cause i'm not a total geek, but...) is spaceship design. According to reports from episode 3, there will be some proto-x-wings and proto-tie fighters revealed. The rebels, one assumed, were using outdated military hardware. The ships all looked beat up and old. So now we know those ships weren't even designed 20 years ago.

Plus military hardware doesn't change designs as quickly as commercial automobiles. Putting aside the fighters, I think it would be incredible for Star Destroyers and Super Star Destroyers to be conceived, designed, built, and massively deployed in a period of less than 20 years. Something that big just doesn't get cobbled together in a few months.

This would be a valid point if it wasn't for one thing. The republic had no standing military to provide any resistance. WRT spaceship design...The Death Star design probably wasn't the only thing that had been in the works on Geonosis.