Development of Advanced Civilization

An idea where there's two major intellectual species on earth: Humans (Homo Sapiens) and a Magpie-like bird (Pica Callidus). This map shows at what point these two species start to co-operate instead of compete in different locations. And usually, where this co-operation starts, advanced civilization quickly follows. Here in the description you'll also see some q's-and-a's on how society run in this timeline


Question 1: Why did these species come to co-operate?
No ones quite sure. The popular theory is that members of both species came to realize that they could benefit from the other; Humans were great at building stuff, given the fact that they have opposable thumbs, but, despite their intelligence, they weren't quite as innovative as the Magpies. The Magpies are quite innovative and clever, but can't do much with it because of their lack of hands. The Magpies can also fly, so that's a plus.


Question 2: How do these species communicate?
The shared language between these two tends to lean towards Magpies, where chirping is almost the single sound created, but words/letters are differentiated by the pitch and length of a note. It's not surprising than that language sounded similar to music (granted, these 'songs' are not very beautiful by our ears), and the first written languages often looked like sheet music. It's also not surprising that humans had difficulty with this, and eventually created the first instruments to aid them (something similar to a flute, recorder, or such).


Question 3: How is their society set up?
Co-operative Human-Magpie societies tend to act differently from place to place. Monarchies are rare in co-operative states, unless one species is considered dominant over the other (in which case is it really co-operative?). In China there has developed a Dualarchy, where there's two monarchs, one from each species, ruling. But in most co-operative states, a republican or democratic government of some sort is usually what comes out, or even theocracies and even a single technocracy.

The Magpies also tend to act as the intellectuals, the strategists, and the organizers, while Humans tend to act as the labor, although isn't to say Humans can't be intellectual or the Magpies can't be labor (although the latter is rare).


Question 4: Is their any conflict between the two?
Yes. Most of it is in the non-Co-operative state, but there is some tension in the Co-operative states as well. It should be noted that racism (if it even should be called that in this case) exists from both sides: The Magpies often consider Humans as barbaric and warlike, while the Humans often consider the Magpies as thieves and kleptocrats and kleptomaniacs, always trying to steal when they have a chance.

There's some truth to both of this. The Humans are by far the more warlike of the two species (but it should be noted that the Magpies barely had a concept of war before Co-operation), and Magpies are naturally just want to grab things to build their nests, and so they're often found stealing shiny objects from stores, even though they tend to be the richest among society.

That's not even mentioning the non-Co-operative states.


Question 5: What about religion?
It's of no surprise that religion of the Co-operative states tends to be based around a creator god that was part Magpie and part Human. From there, religion is all over the place, with some saying that the creator god divided into many gods, with the most powerful being the god of Humans and the god of Magpies. Others say that the Creator god was actually two gods, the Magpie god and the Human god. Yet others say that the creator god never split, although it's uncertain of why their's two creatures than.

Humans tend to be the more religious of the two species, as the Magpies are (ironically) a bit more down to earth. That is not to say the Magpies aren't religious, it just tends to be mild. But the Magpies are still capable of being the crazy religious nuts that we all know and hate.


Question 6: What about non-Co-operative states?
I should mention that they're 3 main classes of societies when it comes to the relationship between the Magpies and the Humans: Co-operative states we've gone on and on about, but their's also Dominant states (where 1 class is the clear dominant over the other) and Separated states, where one species is completely cast out of the state. The latter is rather rare and considered devilish even by the worst racists.

Oddly, although Humans are the greater warmongers and in a physical battle has almost every advantage over the Magpies, most of the Dominant states are actually ruled by the Magpies. The Humans are treated as slaves, being forced to do all the labor that the Magpies can't do at the threat of their eyes being torn out or even killed. Humans do recognize this is the most the Magpies can do, but having one's eyes being torn out is never a pleasant experience.

Human dominated societies tend to be less cruel towards the Magpies (again showing this oddity when it comes to the Dominant states). In the Human societies, Magpies are basically just pets, ore pieces of entertainment. While less physically cruel, it is rather demeaning towards the Magpies.


Any more questions? Ask and I may add them!