Daystrom Institute Library Files: The Cardassians

A fan made Daystrom Research Institute library file on the brutal history of the Cardassians.

Star Trek YouTuber Ketwolski has produced a series of fan made Daystrom Institute library files covering everything from Cardassians to the Temporal Cold War. These files are both fun and full of fascinating background information that both casual and long time devoted Trekkies will find interesting.

Today Ketwolski is looking at the Cardassians and the history of their brutal empire. The Cardassians have always been one of my favorite Star Trek races. What I love about the Cardassians most is that they are always so convinced that they are doing the right thing. When a villain or antagonist does things just to be evil or hurt others the result can be that the villain seems almost silly. This is because without motivation and a feeling of being justified in their actions the villain feels like a hollow plot device.

The Cardassians are anything but hollow, they have a rich culture and their authoritarian attitudes come from doing what they genuinely think is right. As self serving as Gul Dukat is he genuinely believes that his actions are right and justified.

Check out the Daystrom Research Institute library entry on Cardassian history.

The Cardassian society was forced to rely on the state and conquest because their home world had scarce resources and suffered from plague and famine. The conquests of the Cardassians eventually brought them into conflict with the Bajorans and the Federation. When you know that Cardassia originally started its conquests because of suffering on their home world it affects how you view them. They may be militaristic and brutal, but in their eyes they are just doing what they have to do to survive.

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So what do you think, do you see the Cardassians differently now? Let us know on Facebook or in the comments below.