"For over a thousand generations, the Jedi knights..." Topic

"…were the guardians of peace and justice in the old Republic…"

So, just how old was the Old Republic? I always figured a "generation" was around 20 to 30 years. Was the Old Republic really in existence for 20,000 to 30,000 years before it was utterly destroyed by Jar-Jar Binks and a minor trade dispute?

Thanks!
jav98

The answer you are seeking can be found on Wookeipedia….

25,034 years until the establishment of the empire in 19BBY.

"…before it was utterly destroyed by Jar-Jar Binks and a minor trade dispute?"

Yes.

I know, I know, it doesn't work for me, either.
Nor does the fact that an interstellar civilization hasn't figured out the hand-rail…

Yep, 25,000 years!

Though of course like many sweeping statements that's a bit of a simplification. Per the EU sources, the very early Republic wasn't really 'Galactic', there were periods of internal civil war and interregnums that make the notion of continuous governance questionable, etc. But even the Galactic Empire used many symbols and institutions that were established by the Galactic Republic, so in some ways the 'Republic' never really fell at all.

-Will

In terms of the Galactic Republic, it might be more beneficial to look at it in terms of what the French do, with terms like the "3rd Republic" etc. So while there has been an entity known as "France" for quite some time, it has gone through a number of different governments and republics over that course. This does not change the fact that the nation is still called "France."

The Republic that fell in the movies was at least the Second Republic, since there was a re-establishment after the end of the Sith Wars some 1000 years previous.

Damon.

If you notice in the first movie, the Republic isn't a galaxy spanning government. Tattooine isn't in the republic, but it certainly is in the Empire by the 4th movie. The Empire grew quite large after the Republic falls (Empires are so much more efficient, the starliners run on time, and you don't have to worry about all those pesky freedoms getting in your governments way).

There is something else, although it's implied that the Republic is as old as the Jedi, it doesn't mean it has to be. The Jedi could have been guardians of law and order in star spanning governments before the Republic came into being, they just survived from government to government down through the millennium.. They survive the fall of the old Republic and the fall of the Empire.

…Could just be Jedi propaganda…

"…Yeah, we protected the entire galaxy from all evils for 25,000+ years. Make checks payable to 'Jedi Protection Fund Ltd.' Thank you very much, and don't question my authority or I will pull a mind trick on you or slice your rebellious head off."

Or maybe 'years' is being measured with the revolutions of some really fast planet (25,000 years= 3 human generations, or such… Let's not assume Earthling measurements for a galaxy far far away…)

Propaganda indeed. Obi Wan played fast and loose with truth.
Shifty ol …

Yes and the average age of a female …..(insert species name here)…. giving birth/laying eggs etc. could also be younger and more often than that of we humans on Earth.

Jar Jar Binks is the spongebob squarepants of interstellar diplomacy.

Does that mean 20,000 years of stagnation. In 20,000 years we went from hunter gatherers to the moon. What have the Jedi done.

You mean with the blast shield down I have to rely on the Force to fight?

No, that was a common sense test. Only an idiot would put a bucket on his head and think he had as good a chance.

Take the helmet off and you'll have taken your first steps into a larger world.

The simple answer is that Lucas put it in because it sounds cool. Then the EU writers bent over backwards to make it work because the films are canon gospel.

Bashytubits calling JAR JAR BINKS the spongebob squarepants of interstellar diplomacy is an insult to Jar Jar Binks IMHO.

It's not Jar Jar's fault that the Empire happened for I blame Palpatine and Padme for causing that.

Palpatine took advantage of a weak minded creature in Jar Jar and Padme should've been in the Senate doing her part instead of leaving Jar Jar to hold the bag so to speak.

The simple answer is that Lucas put it in because it sounds cool.

And then Lucus forgot what he wrote in Episode IV and for Episode II made it sound like the Republic was 1000 years old instead of 1000 generations old (a more reasonable number, I admit). <_<

I greatly fear what the coming films are going to do to the EU timeline….

But overall I agree with Garand, there's really been a succession of galactic-wide civilizations/governments that all claim to be a continuation of the Republic, but they really aren't directly continuous; and the Jedi just played a fairly similar role in all of them.

-Will

I thought the EU was being pushed off the deck where the films were concerned. I thought Disney, et al. already stated the EU will have zero influence on the new films?

Here's hoping the first movie focuses more on Life Day.

The Roman Empire was almost 1000 years old until a small tribe of barbarians marched in and sacked Rome. When any empire\republic\democracy is stagnant, all it takes is a feather to knock it over.

Yes, I expect at least one Life-Day reference in the new movies.

Good info, thanks!

And if Life Day shows up in the new movies… well, I'll just say that George Lucas will rue the day.

The right to distribute the Holiday special alone would make the $6 USD billion purchase worth it. . .

They don't have to have the rights to distribute the holiday special. There are torrents on the net where you can get it – and as much as GL wants people to forget it, it WAS in the 25th anniversary ILM book.